Future French aircraft carrier explained

The French Navy is actively planning for a future aircraft carrier and new flagship. It is known in French as Porte-avions de nouvelle génération (PA-NG) for 'new generation aircraft carrier'.[1] [2] Construction of the PANG is expected to begin around 2031 and it is projected to enter service in about 2038;[3] the year the aircraft carrier is due to be retired.[4] The ship will be nuclear-powered and will feature the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).[5] [6]

History

Context

The current French aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, entered service on 18 May 2001. As the only aircraft carrier of the French Navy, the ship's maintenance periods leave France without an available aircraft carrier. As a result the PA2 project (French: Porte-Avions 2, "Aircraft Carrier 2") started in 2003 to study the feasibility of another carrier based on the design of the British Queen Elizabeth-class. The PA2 project was suspended in 2009 and ultimately cancelled in 2013.[7] [8]

In October 2018, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly announced the start of a second carrier programme, this time as replacement for Charles de Gaulle.[9] The military planning legislation for 2019-2025 (Loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025) defined a 18-month, €40M study phase, to allow the President to decide on the main characteristics of the programme by 2020.[10] In May 2020, during a visit to Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Parly stated that the new carrier would be built in Saint-Nazaire — as expected, since it is the only dry dock in France capable of harbouring ships of that size.[11]

Architecture, propulsion options and number of ships were originally to be decided by President Macron in July 2020, to allow him to make the announcement at Bastille Day.[12] However, on 6 July 2020, a governmental reshuffle put the Castex government in charge, forcing to delay the Defence Council to later in the year.

During a visit to the Framatome site at Le Creusot on 8 December 2020, President Macron officially announced the start of the PANG programme, and selection of nuclear propulsion for the new ship.[13] [14] [15]

In 2022, Naval Group released new renderings of the carrier that included a revised island structure.[16] [17] [18]

Construction

In May 2020, Defence minister Florence Parly stated that the PANG would be built in Saint-Nazaire at Chantiers de l'Atlantique.[19]

Preliminary design work on new 220 MW K22 nuclear reactors to power the ship was completed in 2023. A production contract for the ship itself is anticipated in about 2025 with hull construction to begin in about 2031. Sea trials are projected to begin in around 2035.[20] [21] [22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Szondy . David . 10 December 2020 . Macron says France's next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209063312/https://newatlas.com/military/macron-next-french-aircraft-carrier-nuclear-powered/ . 9 February 2023 . 22 December 2020 . New Atlas.
  2. Web site: Axe . David . 10 December 2020 . Bigger Is Better—The French Navy Plans A Huge New Aircraft Carrier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226042525/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/12/10/bigger-is-better-the-french-navy-plans-a-huge-new-aircraft-carrier/?sh=3568051ae177 . 26 February 2023 . 22 December 2020 . Forbes . en.
  3. Web site: Groizeleau . Vincent . 19 June 2023 . Focus : le porte-avions français de nouvelle génération (PA-NG) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816201724/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/focus-le-porte-avions-francais-de-nouvelle-generation-pa-ng . 16 August 2023 . 19 June 2023 . Mer et Marine . French.
  4. Web site: Lye . Harry . 9 December 2020 . Next French aircraft carrier to be nuclear powered . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230316085826/https://www.naval-technology.com/features/next-french-aircraft-carrier-to-be-nuclear-powered/ . 16 March 2023 . 22 December 2020 . Naval Technology.
  5. Web site: Mackenzie . Christina . 8 December 2020 . Macron kicks off French race to build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier . live . https://archive.today/20201209155703/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/08/macron-kicks-off-french-race-to-build-a-new-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier/ . 9 December 2020 . 22 December 2020 . Defense News.
  6. Web site: Peruzzi . Luca . 13 December 2022 . French Navy new generation aircraft carrier design detailed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528091947/https://www.edrmagazine.eu/french-navy-new-generation-aircraft-carrier-design-detailed . 28 May 2023 . 8 January 2023 . EDR Magazine.
  7. Web site: 14 October 2009 . Audition de l'Amiral Pierre-François Forissier, chef d'état-major de la marine, sur le projet de loi de finances pour 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328151912/https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/cr-cdef/09-10/c0910008.asp#P3_69 . 28 March 2023 . 7 February 2021 . French National Assembly . National Assembly . French.
  8. News: Cabirol . Michel . 25 July 2012 . Le second porte-avions touché, coulé par la crise . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207195646/https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/20120725trib000710862/defense-le-second-porte-avions-touche-coule-par-la-crise.html . 7 December 2022 . 7 February 2021 . La Tribune . French.
  9. News: Vavasseur . Xavier . 23 October 2018 . Euronaval 2018: France Officially Launches Aircraft Carrier Renewal Program . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323190351/https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2018/euronaval-2018/6594-euronaval-2018-france-officially-launches-aircraft-carrier-renewal-program.html . 23 March 2023 . 10 March 2021 . Navy Recognition.
  10. Web site: Barluet . Alain . 23 October 2018 . Le successeur du Charles de Gaulle est à l'étude . dead . https://archive.today/20240114042036/https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2018/10/23/01003-20181023ARTFIG00245-le-successeur-du-charles-de-gaulle-est-a-l-etude.php . 14 January 2024 . 31 May 2020 . . fr.
  11. Web site: 14 May 2020 . Un porte-avions nouvelle génération succédera au Charles de Gaulle en 2038 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207195648/https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/un-porte-avions-nouvelle-generation-succedera-au-charles-de-gaulle-en-2038--18-05-2020-2375970_23.php . 7 December 2022 . 31 May 2020 . . fr.
  12. Web site: Groizeleau . Vincent . 21 July 2020 . Futur(s) porte-avions: la décision repoussée . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210011138/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/futurs-porte-avions-la-decision-repoussee . 10 December 2022 . 27 July 2020 . Mer et Marine . fr.
  13. News: GroizeIeau . Vincent . 9 December 2020 . La France dévoile son prochain porte-avions nucléaire . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207201316/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-france-devoile-son-prochain-porte-avions-nucleaire . 7 December 2022 . Mer et Marine.
  14. News: Guibert . Nathalie . 9 December 2020 . Le porte-avions " Charles-de-Gaulle " aura un successeur à propulsion nucléaire, annonce Emmanuel Macron . dead . https://archive.today/20230913223601/https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2020/12/08/le-porte-avions-charles-de-gaulle-aura-un-successeur-a-propulsion-nucleaire-annonce-emmanuel-macron_6062641_3210.html . 13 September 2023 . Le Monde . fr.
  15. News: Huberdeau . Emmanuel . 10 December 2020 . France selects nuclear propulsion option for future aircraft carrier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226073314/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/france-selects-nuclear-propulsion-option-for-future-aircraft-carrier . 26 December 2023 . 8 March 2021 . Janes . en.
  16. Web site: Parken . Oliver . 20 October 2022 . This Is What France's Giant Future Aircraft Carrier Will Look Like . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104041405/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/this-is-what-frances-giant-future-aircraft-carrier-will-look-like . 4 January 2024 . 20 March 2023 . The Drive . en.
  17. Web site: Peruzzi . Luca . 13 December 2022 . French Navy new generation aircraft carrier design detailed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528091947/https://www.edrmagazine.eu/french-navy-new-generation-aircraft-carrier-design-detailed . 28 May 2023 . 20 March 2023 . EDR Magazine . en-GB.
  18. Web site: Mehta . Aaron . 19 October 2022 . France reveals first look at new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210034015/https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/france-reveals-first-look-at-new-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier/ . 10 December 2023 . 20 March 2023 . Breaking Defense . en-US.
  19. News: Saux . Lionel Le . 29 May 2020 . Nouveau porte-avions: Brest contribuera à sa conception, assure Florence Parly . live . https://archive.today/20240114043006/https://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/brest-29200/nouveau-porte-avions-brest-contribuera-a-sa-conception-assure-florence-parly-3649251.php . 14 January 2024 . 10 March 2021 . Le Télégramme . fr.
  20. Web site: Groizeleau . Vincent . 19 June 2023 . Focus : le porte-avions français de nouvelle génération (PA-NG) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816201724/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/focus-le-porte-avions-francais-de-nouvelle-generation-pa-ng . 16 August 2023 . 19 June 2023 . Mer et Marine . fr.
  21. Web site: Vavasseur . Xavier . 8 December 2020 . President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128102515/https://news.usni.org/2020/12/08/president-macron-announces-start-of-new-french-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-program . 28 November 2023 . U.S. Naval Institute.
  22. Web site: 8 December 2020 . France: President Macron confirms that the future aircraft carrier will feature nuclear propulsion . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929112600/https://www.edrmagazine.eu/france-president-macron-confirms-that-the-future-aircraft-carrier-will-feature-nuclear-propulsion . 29 September 2023 . 19 June 2023 . EDR on-line.

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