France announces construction of a new aircraft carrier

The Chronify

December 22, 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to build a new and more advanced aircraft carrier. In a speech on Sunday addressed to French troops deployed in the Gulf region, he said the new ship would replace the aging Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and strengthen France’s maritime capabilities, Reuters reported.

The project, known as Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PANG), is estimated to cost around €10.25 billion. According to the French government, the new carrier is expected to become operational in 2038, coinciding with the planned retirement of the Charles de Gaulle, which entered service in 2001. Work on the ship’s nuclear propulsion system began last year, and the final purchase order is expected to be issued under the 2025 budget.

PANG will be the largest warship ever built in Europe and will form a crucial component of France’s nuclear deterrent. The project also aligns with Europe’s push for defense self-reliance amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and perceived hesitation from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding European security.

Macron spoke with troops at a French military base in Abu Dhabi, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. He said the decision to launch the program was made this week and that it will strengthen France’s industrial base, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises.

French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the new carrier will be operational by 2038, noting that the Charles de Gaulle was launched in 2001 after 15 years of planning and construction.

However, due to financial pressures, several centrist and center-left lawmakers have recently proposed delaying the new aircraft carrier project.

As the only nuclear-armed EU country, France is one of the few European nations along with the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain to operate aircraft carriers. Yet in terms of capacity, Europe still lags behind, with the U.S. operating 11 carriers and China three.

In October, French Armed Forces Chief Fabien Mandon noted in the Senate that China has already developed electromagnetic catapults for aircraft launch. He said France plans to purchase similar systems from the United States, as domestic development would not align with the project’s timeline and budget constraints.