The French aircraft carrier 'Charles-de-Gaulle' in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Toulon, November 28, 2024. CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP
President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion of the traditional Christmas celebration with the troops – this year held in the United Arab Emirates – to announce the construction of a new aircraft carrier to succeed the Charles-de-Gaulle, which will mark its 25th anniversary in 2026. The project began in 2018, and this "new generation" vessel – referred to in official jargon as the "PANG" – is scheduled to enter service in 2038. The estimated cost is €10.2 billion.
"In an era of predators, we must be strong in order to be feared," said the head of state at a military base near Abu Dhabi, addressing dozens of French soldiers deployed in the UAE – where about 900 are stationed in total – with whom he shared a holiday meal ahead of Christmas. The ship, which is equipped with nuclear propulsion, will weigh nearly 80,000 metric tons and measure about 310 meters in length, compared to 42,000 metric tons and 261 meters for the Charles-de-Gaulle. With a crew of 2,000 sailors, it will be able to carry 30 fighter jets.
The official announcement to launch the production of the PANG had been expected, despite the government's budgetary deadlock. Its construction was approved by the 2025 budget, which was adopted in February. "The industrial organization is based on a joint venture between Naval Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique for the ship excluding the nuclear boiler rooms, and on TechnicAtome for the nuclear boiler rooms," the budget document stated.
