France has formally launched the production phase of its next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (PA-NG), marking a major milestone in the country’s long-term naval modernisation effort. The decision, announced by President Emmanuel Macron in December 2025, transitions the programme from design to construction after more than five years of development. The future carrier, now officially named France Libre, is intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle when it retires from frontline service around 2038. The platform is expected to remain a central component of France’s power projection capability for several decades.
At approximately 310 m in length and 80,000 tonnes displacement, France Libre will significantly exceed the size of its predecessor. The vessel will be powered by two K-22 pressurised water reactors, enabling virtually unlimited operational range and sustained high-tempo deployments. Maximum speed is expected to reach around 27 kt, with a total complement of roughly 2,000 personnel, including the embarked air wing. A key technological feature is the integration of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), supplied by General Atomics via a Foreign Military Sales agreement. The angled flight deck, spanning approximately 17,200 m², will incorporate three catapults and three arresting wires, enabling concurrent launch and recovery operations and supporting an estimated sortie generation rate of up to 60 sorties per day during high-intensity operations.
The carrier’s air wing is projected to include around 30 combat aircraft, initially centred on the Dassault Rafale M in its F5 standard. These will be supported by three Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye platforms and up to six NH90 Caïman helicopters. Over the longer term, the air group is expected to evolve to include unmanned systems and the future Next Generation Fighter (NGF) under the trinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, involving Dassault Aviation, Airbus, MBDA, and Thales. Below deck, the ship will feature a fully electrified architecture, a hangar served by two 40-tonne aircraft lifts, and expanded munitions storage designed to sustain operations at high tempo for more than seven days without resupply.
Construction is scheduled to begin with hull assembly at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in 2032. The vessel will then transfer to Toulon for final outfitting and reactor integration in 2035. Sea trials are planned for 2036, with commissioning into the French Navy targeted for 2038. Upon entry into service, France Libre will replace the Charles de Gaulle, with an expected operational lifespan of approximately 45 years. The PA-NG programme is expected to mobilise a broad segment of France’s defence industrial base over nearly two decades, delivering significant contributions to national employment, technological innovation, and strategic autonomy.
