France is set to begin construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
"In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared. I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier," Macron was quoted as saying by French media at a Christmas event at a French military base in the United Arab Emirates.
With a displacement of around 80,000 tons, the carrier will be almost twice as heavy as its predecessor, the Charles de Gaulle.
At 310 metres long and 85 metres wide, it is designed to accommodate 30 fighter jets and 2,000 crew members.
Construction is estimated to cost up to €10 million ($11.7 million). The carrier is expected to be operational from 2038, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said on X.
France is the only country besides the US that owns a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
NATO official says members often aren't buying weapons together, and it's a mistake - 2The Main 20 Photography Instagram Records to Follow
- 3Iran-backed Iraqi militias attack Kurdistan over 450 times since beginning of war
- 4Most loved Fish Dish: What's Your Sea Pleasure?
- 5Vote In favor of Your Favored Language Interpretation Administration
- The most effective method to Recuperate After a Dental Embed Strategy: A Far reaching Guide
- Relive NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch to the moon in these stunning photos
- Exploiting Unsold Rams: May Be Less expensive Than You Suspect
- Far-right leader Le Pen to attend Brigitte Bardot's funeral
- Ancient mass grave discovered in water cistern during Tel Azekah excavations
- PFAS in pregnant women’s drinking water puts their babies at higher risk, study finds
- This Week In Space podcast: Episode 186 — Snow on the Moon?
- 15 skywatching events you won't want to miss in 2026
- The 10 Most Noteworthy Games in History
