JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

France Advances Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Program

December 22, 2025

2 min read

Key Takeaways

France has approved the construction of a new aircraft carrier.
The program is expected to take 15 years to complete.
The carrier will be significantly larger than the Charles de Gaulle.
It will be equipped with US-developed electromagnetic aircraft launch systems.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

This move may indicate France's commitment to maintaining its military presence in the region and its ability to project power globally. The program's focus on industrial cooperation and the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises suggests a desire to sustain France's naval and high-technology industrial base. However, the timeline and the need to ensure the Charles de Gaulle's continued availability may pose challenges to the program's success.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

France Embarks on 15-Year Journey to Build Nuclear-Powered Carrier

France has approved the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PANG), with a projected completion date of 2038. The program is expected to involve around 800 suppliers and will be significantly larger than the Charles de Gaulle, with a displacement of close to 80,000 tons. The new carrier will be equipped with US-developed electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and will serve as a long-term pillar of France’s power projection and maritime autonomy. The program was announced by President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to French forces deployed in Abu Dhabi, with construction expected to begin in the second half of the 2020s.

Source

Companies Mentioned