French President Emmanuel Macron officially approved the plan to replace the fleet’s flagship – the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The ship’s weight is expected to be nearly twice as large as the current fleet’s hydro-meteorological vessel. The announcement came on December 21 during a visit to French troops in the United Arab Emirates.
“In an era of predators, we must be strong so that we are feared”
– Emmanuel Macron
Specifications of the future ship and the context of the decision
The new aircraft carrier will also be nuclear-powered. Its displacement is expected to be about 80,000 tons, with a length of about 310 meters. For comparison: the current Charles de Gaulle has a displacement of about 42,000 tons and a length of 261 meters. The crew will number approximately 2,000 people, and the ship will be able to carry around 30 fighter jets.
Charles de Gaulle entered the fleet in 2001 after more than a decade of construction. France began considering replacement options in 2018.
The decision was made despite a budget crisis. Some members of the military leadership, including General Fabien Mandon, expressed doubts about the project’s priority in light of the threat of war with Russia in Europe.
According to analysts, the future ship will be significantly smaller than the 11 large U.S. aircraft carriers; at the same time, today only China and the Royal Navy operate aircraft carriers of a similar size – and all of them are equipped with conventional engines.
This move reflects France’s aim to strengthen defense capabilities and adapt to contemporary security challenges on the global stage.