France’s president announced the launch of a next-generation nuclear-powered carrier program, citing strategic stability, industrial strength, and evolving global security threats.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Dec. 21 that France will build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the aging Charles de Gaulle, marking a major expansion of the country’s naval and industrial defense ambitions.
“In accordance with the last two military programming laws and after a thorough and meticulous review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier,” Macron said during a speech to French troops stationed in Abu Dhabi, near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global energy shipments.
Macron said the decision to launch the program was finalized this week and confirmed that the vessel will be built in France, adding that he plans to visit the shipyard in February. He said the project will involve roughly 800 suppliers and deliver broad economic benefits.
“This new aircraft carrier will be a testament to the power of our nation: the power of industry and technology, power at the service of freedom on the seas and in the face of changing times, and stability also for the benefit of our strategic partner, the United Arab Emirates, with whom we maintain ties of profound trust,” Macron said.
France’s armed forces and veterans minister, Catherine Vautrin, later said the next-generation carrier—known as the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération, or PA-NG—will be the “cornerstone of our armed forces” and confirmed that commissioning is scheduled for 2038, according to her statement posted on X.
Macron’s confirmation follows his initial announcement in 2020 that France intended to pursue a successor to the Charles de Gaulle, which entered service in 2001.
According to France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, the PA-NG will be powered by two K22 nuclear reactors and will operate French Rafale M fighter jets. The ministry said the carrier will be capable of conducting heavily armed, long-range air operations repeatedly, over extended periods, and at short notice.
The new vessel is expected to measure approximately 1,017 feet in length, making it significantly larger than the Charles de Gaulle, which is 856 feet long, though still smaller than the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship at roughly 1,100 feet.
France is the only nuclear-armed nation in the European Union and one of the few European countries operating an aircraft carrier, alongside Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The carrier announcement comes as France increases defense spending and deepens strategic cooperation with allies in response to what Macron has described as a deteriorating global security environment. On July 13, he announced an additional €6.5 billion ($7.6 billion) in defense funding for 2026 and 2027.
In a speech ahead of Bastille Day, Macron said Europe faces a combination of persistent and emerging threats, including Islamist terrorism, cyberattacks, and the Russia–Ukraine war on NATO’s eastern flank.
France has also moved to strengthen its strategic posture through closer coordination with allies. On July 10, Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to coordinate their independent nuclear deterrents if necessary to defend Europe, marking the first time France and the UK agreed to align the potential use of nuclear weapons.
Separately, France is seeking to expand its armed forces through a new youth military service initiative unveiled on Nov. 27. The program will be open to men and women aged 18 and 19 and will provide paid training in weapons handling, field exercises, and military discipline. Participants will serve exclusively within France and, after 10 months, may remain in the military, join the reserves, or return to civilian life.
The French government expects 3,000 recruits to enroll in 2026, rising to 10,000 by 2030. Macron said he ultimately hopes the program will attract 50,000 participants by 2036.
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