310 m long, space for 2,000 crew members and 30 jets: France is starting the construction of its mega aircraft carrier – the only nuclear-powered warship in Europe.
Dec 22, 2025, 05:34Dec 22, 2025, 05:34
Anna-Lena Janzen / t-online
France wants to expand its position as a naval power by building a larger and more modern aircraft carrier. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed plans on Sunday that he had already presented in 2020. The nuclear-powered ship is intended to replace the aging aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle”.
The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is to be replaced by a more modern ship from 2038.Image: imago
With a displacement of around 80,000 tons, it will be almost twice as heavy as its predecessor, 310 meters long, 85 meters wide, and offer space for 30 fighter aircraft and 2,000 crew members. The cost of the project, known as “Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération” (PANG), is estimated at 10.25 billion euros.
The ship would be the largest warship ever built in Europe. Apart from France, only Great Britain, Italy and Spain have aircraft carriers in Europe. The USA owns eleven of these ships, China three.
«In times of aggressors we have to be strong in order to be feared. “I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier,” said President Emmanuel Macron at a Christmas party in front of around 900 French soldiers at a French military base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
“The decision to launch this huge program was made this week,” said Macron. The construction of the ship will also strengthen French industry, especially small and medium-sized companies.
Ready for use from 2038
Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin wrote on Platform X that the new ship would enter service in 2038. This is the point at which the “Charles de Gaulle” is expected to cease service. This aircraft carrier entered service in 2001, around 15 years after the order was placed.
Some French MPs from the center and the moderate left camp had recently called for the project to be postponed. They pointed to the country’s strained public finances. France is one of Europe’s leading military powers and one of only five official nuclear powers.
Sources used:
- News agencies Reuers and dpa