Future French aircraft carrier

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 Charles de Gaulle is due to be retired.[4] The ship will be nuclear-powered and feature the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) catapult system.[5][6]

"PANG" redirects here. For other uses, see Pang (disambiguation).

Porte-avions de nouvelle génération
(PA-NG)
Artist's impression of the carrier
Class overview
Operators French Navy
Preceded by
Planned1
History
StatusPreliminary studies
General characteristics
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement75,000 tonnes (full load)
LengthOverall: 310 m (1,020 ft)
Beam
  • Overall: 85 m (279 ft)
  • Waterline: 39 m (128 ft)
Propulsion2 × K22 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 220 MW (300,000 hp) each
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
RangeUnlimited distance
Complement~2,000
Aircraft carried

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][13] 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.[12]

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.[14][15][16]

In 2022, Naval Group released new renderings of the carrier that included a revised island structure.[17][18][19]

Construction

In May 2020, Defence minister Florence Parly stated that the PANG would be built in Saint-Nazaire at Chantiers de l'Atlantique.[20]

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.[21][22][23]

  • General outlines of the ship.
    General outlines of the ship.
  • Interactive 3D model.
    Interactive 3D model.
  • View from the flight deck, with the distinctive French landing markings.
    View from the flight deck, with the distinctive French landing markings.

See also

References
  1. "Macron says France's next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered". New Atlas. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. Axe, David. "Bigger Is Better—The French Navy Plans A Huge New Aircraft Carrier". Forbes. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. Groizeleau, Vincent (19 June 2023). "Focus : le porte-avions français de nouvelle génération (PA-NG)". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. "Next French aircraft carrier to be nuclear powered". www.naval-technology.com. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  5. Mackenzie, Christina (8 December 2020). "Macron kicks off French race to build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier". Defense News. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  6. Peruzzi, Luca (13 December 2022). "French Navy new generation aircraft carrier design detailed". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. "Audition de l'Amiral Pierre-François Forissier, chef d'état-major de la marine, sur le projet de loi de finances pour 2010". French National Assembly. National Assembly. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. Cabirol, Michel. "Le second porte-avions touché, coulé par la crise". La Tribune. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  9. Vavasseur, Xavier (23 October 2018). "Euronaval 2018: France Officially Launches Aircraft Carrier Renewal Program". www.navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. "Le successeur du Charles de Gaulle est à l'étude". Le Figaro (in French). 23 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  11. "Un porte-avions nouvelle génération succédera au Charles de Gaulle en 2038". La Tribune (in French). 14 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  12. "Futur(s) porte-avions: la décision repoussée". Mer et Marine (in French). 21 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  13. "Plan Mercator: l'âge d'or de la Marine nationale ?". secret-defense.org (in French). 7 February 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  14. GroizeIeau, Vincent. "La France dévoile son prochain porte-avions nucléaire". Mer et Marine.
  15. Guibert, Nathalie. "Le porte-avions " Charles-de-Gaulle " aura un successeur à propulsion nucléaire, annonce Emmanuel Macron".
  16. Huberdeau, Emmanuel (10 December 2020). "France selects nuclear propulsion option for future aircraft carrier". Janes. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  17. Parken, Oliver (20 October 2022). "This Is What France's Giant Future Aircraft Carrier Will Look Like". The War Zone. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  18. Peruzzi, Luca (13 December 2022). "French Navy new generation aircraft carrier design detailed". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  19. Mehta, Aaron (19 October 2022). "France reveals first look at new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  20. "Nouveau porte-avions: Brest contribuera à sa conception, assure Florence Parly". Le Télégramme. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  21. Groizeleau, Vincent (19 June 2023). "Focus : le porte-avions français de nouvelle génération (PA-NG)". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  22. "President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program". 8 December 2020.
  23. "France: President Macron confirms that the future aircraft carrier will feature nuclear propulsion". EDR on-line. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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