Macron says France would build a new aircraft carrier for troops stationed in the Gulf
President Emmanuel Macron on Monday reaffirmed plans to upgrade France’s naval might by replacing the aging Charles de Gaulle carrier with a new, bigger, and more advanced aircraft carrier.
It is estimated that the “Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération” (PANG) scheme will cost approximately 10.25 billion euros ($12 billion).
By 2038, when the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is anticipated to retire, the replacement ship will be in service, according to the French government. The final order must be placed under the 2025 budget. Work on nuclear propulsion components started last year.
In light of Russia’s war in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to support the security of the continent, the PANG—the biggest warship ever constructed in Europe—is essential to France’s nuclear deterrent and Europe’s push for more defense autonomy.
MACRON CONTACTING TROOPS
Macron was addressing soldiers stationed at a French military installation in Abu Dhabi, which is close to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for international oil supplies.
Macron declared that the project would strengthen France’s industrial basis, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and that “the decision to launch this vast program was taken this week.”
In 2038, the carrier will replace the Charles de Gaulle, which went into service in 2001 following 15 years of planning and building, according to Army Minister Catherine Vautrin on X.
Due to France’s tight state resources, some MPs from the center and moderate left have recently proposed delaying the construction of a new aircraft carrier.
Capabilities of European carriers
The only nuclear-armed country in the EU, France, along with Britain, Italy, and Spain, is one of the few European countries that owns an aircraft carrier.
Europe’s capabilities are still limited in comparison to China’s three carriers and the United States’ eleven.
In October, Fabien Mandon, the head of the armed forces, informed the Senate, “The Chinese have just developed electromagnetic catapults to launch aircraft.” He also stated that France will purchase these systems from the United States since domestic manufacturing is “compatible with our schedule and cost control.”
