French President Emmanuel Macron is currently visiting French soldiers in Abu Dhabi for Christmas. In a speech to the troops, he announced the official start of construction of a new aircraft carrier as the successor to the “Charles de Gaulle” – the largest warship ever built in Europe.
“As an illustration of our power” and “in line with the last two laws on military programming and after a complete and thorough review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier,” said Macron. “In the age of predators, we must be strong to be feared.”
Despite the current budget crisis, all necessary contracts for the project are to be signed. “I will guarantee this commitment to the 800 suppliers responsible for the project,” Emmanuel Macron emphasized.
The planned ship of the French Navy is to be significantly larger than the current carrier “Charles de Gaulle”. The 42,000-ton, 261-meter-long ship is to be followed by a genuine supercarrier with a displacement of 75,000 to 80,000 tons, a length of around 310 meters and a width of 79 meters. This would make the planned carrier by far the largest warship that France has ever built – and as heavy as the largest French battleship “Richelieu” (1943) and the “Charles de Gaulle” (2001) combined.
The planned completion date is 2038. Until then, the “Charles de Gaulle” will have to undergo another comprehensive shipyard overhaul. This maintenance, planned for 2029, is intended to keep the ship and its two nuclear reactors operational at least until the new carrier enters service. The new carrier will be designed for a capacity of at least 30 fighter aircraft and will also be able to deploy “drones of all kinds”.
The “PA-NG” concept known to date from Société Mo Porte-Avions, a joint venture between Naval Group (65%) and Chantiers de l’Atlantique (35%), envisages a CATOBAR aircraft carrier with a flight deck measuring around 17,000 square meters and two elevators. Two K22 nuclear reactors from Technic Atome are to power the ship fully electrically. 80 MW of power is planned for the propulsion motors, with a further 30 MW for three 105-meter-long EMALS catapults and the on-board electronics.
In order to accommodate a possible Rafale successor, a fighter aircraft with a length of 18 meters, a wingspan of 14 meters, two engines and a V-tail is planned.
For self-defense, the ship is to be equipped with 40-millimeter Thales Rapidfire guns, three SimbadD-RC launchers for short-range Mistral missilesthree SimbadD-RC launchers for short-range Mistral missiles and VLS cells for Aster anti-aircraft missiles.
The new aircraft carrier is being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. The planned construction costs are expected to amount to around 5 billion euros.
À l’heure des prédateurs, nous devons être forts pour être craints. I’ve decided to doter la France of a new porte-avions. pic.twitter.com/LAleIro4bF
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 21, 2025
“This new aircraft carrier will be an example of the strength of our nation, the strength of our industry and our technology – a strength at the service of freedom on the seas and in these turbulent times,” Macron concluded.
Here for more news about the French armed forces.
