France will build a new aircraft carrier to strengthen its position as a naval power, President Emmanuel Macron announced, according to France 24.
He made the announcement to French soldiers gathered at a military base in Abu Dhabi. Macron arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, December 21, to discuss bilateral relations with the UAE.
“The decision to launch this large-scale program was taken this week“, Macron said.
According to Reuters, the program, known as “PANG“ (Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération or “Aircraft Carrier of the New Generation“), will cost approximately 10.25 billion euros.
The French government has said that the new ship will be commissioned by 2038, when the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle“ is expected to be decommissioned. Work on the nuclear propulsion components began in 2024.
France is the only nuclear power in the EU after the UK left. It is among the few European countries to have aircraft carriers, besides the UK, Italy and Spain.
“Charles de Gaulle“ is the flagship of the French Navy, the only aircraft carrier and the first nuclear-powered surface ship in the French Navy. It was launched in 1994, but did not enter service until 2001.
The aircraft carrier has a displacement of 42,000 tons, and its propulsion systems (two K15 nuclear reactors) produce 76,200 horsepower. With a full crew of 1,900 people, including the aviation group and command staff, the ship has a cruising autonomy of up to 45 days. The ship can carry up to 40 aircraft.