French President Emmanuel Macron has approved plans to build a new aircraft carrier that will replace the nuclear powered 42,000 ton Charles de Gaulle (CDG) carrier, now 24 years old.
“In an age of predators, we must be strong in order to be feared,” Eurasiatimes.com quoted Macron as saying while addressing French troops in Abu Dhabi. He confirmed that studies on a new carrier had been initiated in 2018.
This vessel, like the CDG, will be nuclear powered but much bigger displacing 80,000 tons. It will be 310 metres (1017 feet) long compared to 261 metres (856 feet) for the CDG.
“Power will come from two advanced K22 nuclear reactors developed by TechnicAtome, each producing 220–230 megawatts and driving three shafts. Refueling will be needed only once every ten years, giving the ship almost unlimited range limited mainly by crew provisions,” Eurasiatimes reported.
The flight deck will feature two or three electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), enabling rapid and flexible aircraft launches. The air wing is planned to include around 30–40 next-generation fighters (likely Rafale-M or future FCAS aircraft), three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AWACS aircraft, and a complement of unmanned systems.
Nuclear propulsion brings clear advantages: vastly longer time on station, higher sustained speeds (up to 27–30 knots), and more electrical power for advanced systems like EMALS and future directed-energy weapons, the report said.
Construction is expected to start next year and could take 10 years. There will be two design reviews as construction progresses with delivery likely by 2037. It may take another year for the carrier to be fully commissioned.
The report carried a mention of India, noting that former naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash had called for collaborating with the French to develop a nuclear-powered carrier, the idea being to share costs and support India’s future naval fleet ambitions.
India, however, does not currently have any plans for a third carrier, whether nuclear or conventional. This was acknowledged by Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi at his annual press conference in December, where he said the navy was content with two carriers.
