France launches construction of PA-NG next-generation nuclear aircraft carrier.

During a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Emmanuel Macron confirmed the launch of the construction of France’s next aircraft carrier, the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération (PA-NG).

On December 21, 2025, during a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Emmanuel Macron confirmed the launch of the construction of France’s next aircraft carrier, the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération (PA-NG), which could be translated as Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier. The decision follows approval under the two most recent French military programming laws and a completed program review, allowing the project to move into the contract execution phase.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The PA-NG will retain a nuclear propulsion system, which in this case is tied to the planned use of electromagnetic catapults (or EMALS) instead of steam systems, but also to provide the sustained electrical output required to support both flight operations and high-power onboard systems. (Picture source: Naval Group)

He said the decision was taken during the week following the two most recent French military programming laws and a full review, now moving into a realization phase where the remaining major contracts can be placed. The overall cost of the new carrier (intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle, in service since 2001) has been cited at about €10.25 billion, with an entry into service planned for 2038. The future French aircraft carrier will become a central element of French deterrence and of its ability to operate at sea in a context shaped by the war in Ukraine and uncertainty about longer-term European security.

The PA-NG program, initiated in 2018, envisions an aircraft carrier much larger than the Charles de Gaulle, at close to 80,000 tonnes displacement and about 310 meters in overall length, compared with roughly 42,000 tonnes and 261 meters for the current ship, with a flight deck width often cited around 85 meters versus about 64 to 65 meters on its predecessor. This increase in size directly supports a heavier and more diverse air wing of about 40 aircraft, centered on Rafale Marine fighters at the F4 and later F5 standards, E-2D Hawkeye AWACS, whose launch weight and catapult requirements strongly influence deck layout, catapult power, and arresting gear specifications, NH90 and H160M helicopters, as well as future combat aircraft associated with the SCAF program and drones such as the Dassault nEUROn. 

Comparisons already made with other aircraft carriers place the PA-NG among the largest designs ever made in Europe, while still below the displacement of the US Navy’s newest Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear carriers, which displaces about 100,000 tonnes and can carry more than 75 aircraft. But when compared to China and the UK, the PA-NG will be closer in tonnage: China’s current Fujian carrier, now commissioned at over 80,000 tonnes with electromagnetic launchers, combines a displacement similar to the PA-NG with an estimated air wing of 40 to 60 aircraft, but lacks nuclear propulsion. In the UK, the current Queen Elizabeth-class carriers displace around 65,000–70,000 tonnes (less than the PA-NG) and use short take-off and vertical landing operations without catapults, limiting them to aircraft like the F-35B and reducing their ability to operate heavy early-warning aircraft compared with carriers with catapult systems, such as the Charles de Gaulle.

Nuclear propulsion is treated as a specific attribute in the PA-NG program, as the future carrier will be relying on two K22 nuclear reactor plants integrated into the ship through dedicated containment structures. Early industrial activity already started at Naval Group’s Cherbourg site, where the first steel plate for the containment structures of the two reactor plants was welded on September 25, 2025, with an overall estimate of roughly twelve years from initial industrial orders to startup of the plants. The carrier is also described as having very powerful reactors comparable in class to those used on nuclear submarines, and as being sized to supply electricity to high-demand systems throughout its service life.

Compared to the existing Charles de Gaulle, the aviation wing is planned to change in a way that directly affects the French Navy's operational deployment. The PA-NG will be equipped with US-designed EMALS electromagnetic catapults to replace the current steam catapult approach, with the intent of handling a wider set of aircraft weights and launch requirements while providing more precise launch control. However, electrical power margins are emphasized because these systems could impose heavy loads on onboard generation and distribution. The PA-NG will embark electronic warfare systems and missile launchers that are demanding in electricity, including radars and vertical launch systems, and is said to potentially integrate laser systems in the future, which further increases the importance of stable and abundant electrical generation. In practical terms, that power reserve must also support simultaneous operation of flight deck systems, sensors, communications, and defensive suites to sustain high-tempo operations without the constraints of conventional fuel logistics.

Expected to be the largest warship ever built in Europe, the PA-NG also brings up the question of the transition period, as the French Navy operates a single aircraft carrier. A major overhaul of the Charles de Gaulle is scheduled later in the decade, and a dedicated assessment is planned around 2029 to determine whether the ship can remain in service beyond 2038. This assessment will focus on the condition of its nuclear propulsion systems and the structural integrity of the hull after decades of operation. A limited extension of service life could be technically feasible before the entry into service of the PA-NG, but it would depend on safety margins and regulatory acceptance related to the K15 nuclear plants. For the French Navy, the outcome of this evaluation will be critical to maintaining uninterrupted carrier capability during the transition to the new carrier. For now, the Charles de Gaulle is available about 65% of the time, meaning lengthy periods where the carrier cannot deploy, and this fact determines whether the transition can be managed without a period with no carrier at all.

Financially, the PA-NG program combines a large headline estimate with staged payments over time, which shapes industrial execution as much as naval planning. A cited framework indicates €7.3 billion engaged for initial contracts, while outlays cited for the mid-2020s remain relatively low, with €68 million in 2025 and planned payments of €112 million in 2026 and €142 million in 2027, implying that larger cash flows are expected later as construction accelerates. Therefore, the total cost of the program has been estimated for now at about €10.25 billion, spread across multiple budget cycles, which implies that industrial partners will need to manage substantial upfront workloads before full reimbursement, but it also allows the state to smooth budgetary impact over more than a decade. In parallel, Macron stated he would act as guarantor of commitments for a supplier base described at 800 companies, and he said he would visit the construction site in February 2026.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.