French President Emmanuel Macron is set to reveal the name of the next-generation aircraft carrier (PANG) during a visit to Saint-Nazaire. The carrier, intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle, is scheduled to be assembled at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Construction of the PANG began in December, with its expected service entry in 2038. Macron also recently announced the name of another military asset, the future submarine missile carrier, known as the Invincible.
The new nuclear-powered carrier will cost an estimated €10 billion and will be larger than its predecessor, the Charles de Gaulle, capable of carrying more advanced generation fighter jets and drones. French military officials emphasize that the future carrier will not just be a vessel but a maritime platform designed to achieve naval superiority. Macron’s timing for the naming announcement may be influenced by the current deployment of the Charles de Gaulle and its naval group in the Mediterranean amid ongoing tensions in Iran.
