Overview
- President Emmanuel Macron announced the go-ahead this week in an address to French troops in Abu Dhabi, confirming the shift from design to execution.
- The 78,000-tonne PA-Ng is sized at about 310 meters by 90 meters with a 17,200 m² flight deck and two K-22 nuclear reactors, making it set to be the largest warship built in Europe.
- Three Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System tracks and three Advanced Arresting Gear units from General Atomics have been selected, following an earlier $41.6 million contract.
- The air wing is planned around 30 fighters or UCAVs plus three E-2D Hawkeyes and five to six helicopters, entering service with Rafale M F5 and UAVs and adding a carrier-capable UCAV around 2040.
- Assembly is planned at Saint-Nazaire in 2032 before transfer to Toulon in mid-2035 for outfitting and fueling, with sea trials in 2036 and commissioning targeted for 2038; the DGA placed €600 million in long-lead orders in April 2024 supporting a supply base of about 800 firms.