On the occasion of the launch of the future French aircraft carrier project named “France Libre”, which is intended to succeed the Charles-de-Gaulle, the encrypted data allows us to measure the scope of a program that is both military, industrial, and strategic. Ten key points to understand what this ship, aiming to embody French power by 2038, will be.
Beyond the political announcements and symbols associated with this future vessel, the new generation aircraft carrier program (PA-NG) named “France Libre,” launched on Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron, is first and foremost understood through its scale. Dimensions, timeline, cost, jobs: these numbers outline a project that is pivotal for both French defense and industry.
Ten key figures to grasp the magnitude of the PA-NG:
- €10 billion: estimated cost of the program for building the ship, included in the military planning law. A massive public investment in the name of sovereignty.
- 2038: planned year for the operational commissioning of the aircraft carrier, taking over from the Charles-de-Gaulle in a carefully planned schedule to avoid any capacity gap.
- 310 meters: the length of the future vessel, representing a significant change in scale compared to the current aircraft carrier.
- 78,000 tons: its full load displacement, making it the largest military ship ever built in France.
- 90 meters: the maximum width, reflecting a flight deck designed to accommodate intensified aerial operations.
- 17,000 m²: the area of the flight deck, a true floating aerodrome capable of supporting a high operational pace.
- Approximately 40 aircraft: carrying capacity, including next-generation combat aircraft, airborne early warning aircraft, helicopters, and drones. A fleet designed to evolve with future technologies.
- 2 nuclear reactors (K22): the energy heart of the ship, ensuring exceptional autonomy and operational permanence without equal.
- 2,000 sailors: onboard personnel (crew, air group, and staff), illustrating the human complexity of such a combat system.
- 800 companies mobilized: including over 600 SMEs and midcaps, with over 90% of purchases made in France, demonstrating a strong national industrial foothold.
In addition to these figures, other equally compelling indicators include 14,000 jobs at the peak of the program, over 200 subcontractors involved, and an estimated lifespan of 45 years for the vessel. These elements place the PA-NG within the long-term realm of defense and industrial policies.
