France to Reveal Name of Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier

President Emmanuel Macron will unveil the name of France’s next-generation aircraft carrier on Wednesday, March 18, at the Naval Group shipyard in Indret, near Nantes . This announcement follows the officialization of the project last December.

A Larger, More Capable Vessel

The new aircraft carrier will be significantly larger than its predecessor, the Charles de Gaulle, boasting a displacement of 80,000 tonnes and a length of approximately 310 meters. In comparison, the Charles de Gaulle weighs 42,000 tonnes and measures 261 meters . It is designed to accommodate a crew of 2,000 sailors and will be capable of carrying 30 combat aircraft.

National Industrial Effort

The project, currently known in military-industrial circles as PA-NG (for “next generation aircraft carrier”), involves more than 800 companies across France, including a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) . The Élysée Palace highlights the program’s contribution to innovation and research in cutting-edge technological areas.

Construction and Deployment

The nuclear boiler rooms for the new carrier will be manufactured at the Naval Group shipyard in Nantes-Indret, while the ship itself will be assembled by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire. Like the Charles de Gaulle – currently deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean in response to the conflict in the Middle East – the future aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered and is expected to enter service in 2038 .

President Macron ordered the Charles de Gaulle to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to facilitate protect allied assets during the war in the Middle East . France has also deployed Rafale fighter jets, air-defense systems, and airborne radar systems to the region .