French Aircraft Carrier Out of Dry Dock - Refit Work Continues Afloat.

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was taken out of its dry dock on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The vessel was berthed at Toulon naval base where the refit work will now continue afloat. Charles de Gaulle entered the dry dock on February 8, 2017 for its mid-life refit.

Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was taken out of its dry dock on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. French Navy picture.

According to the French Navy, refit work will now continue afloat "for a few more months". From propulsion to the combat system, to the aircraft maintenance workshops, all facilities are being serviced to make the aircraft carrier operational again for the next two decades.

During this mid-life refit, the combat management system, air wing facilities (with a transition to a "100% Rafale" fighter air wing), ship management systems and more have been (or are still being) overhaul or modernized. For more detail, check out our article and video focusing on Charles de Gaulle mid-life refit at this link.

Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was taken out of its dry dock on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Naval Group picture.

Charles de Gaulle mid-life refit key figures (provided by Naval Group):
- Over 4 million hours of work including 2.5 million for the construction site and 1.8 million engineering design;
- 2.5 million hours of work including 1 million for the Toulon site, 500,000 hours for other Naval Group sites and 1 million for subcontractors;
- More than 2,000 people work daily on the site: 1,000 contractors (Naval Group and subcontractors) and 1,100 crew members;
- 160 subcontractors;
- 200,000 tasks;
- 2,000 tests and trials;
- 1.3 billion euros;
- 1 basin of 14 m height, 275 m length and 46 m width
- 177 000m³ of water, about 47 Olympic swimming pools.