French aircraft carrier France Libre

"PANG" redirects here. For other uses, see Pang (disambiguation).

France Libre
Artist's impression of the carrier
Class overview
Operators French Navy
Preceded by
Planned1–2[1]
History
NamesakeFrance Libre
StatusIn development
General characteristics
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement80,000 t (79,000 long tons) (full load)
LengthOverall: 310 m (1,017 ft 1 in)
Beam
  • Overall: 90 m (295 ft 3 in)
  • Waterline: 40 m (131 ft 3 in)
Propulsion2 × TechnicAtome K22 pressurised water reactors (PWR), approx. 220 MWth each[2]
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
RangeUnlimited distance
Complement~ 2,000 (including air wing)
Aircraft carried

France Libre, formerly the Porte-avions de nouvelle génération (PA-NG; "new generation aircraft carrier")[3] is a planned aircraft carrier for the French Navy. Construction of France Libre is expected to begin around 2031 and it is projected to enter service in about 2038, the year the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is due to be retired.[4]

The ship will be nuclear-powered and will feature the three General Atomics Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and three Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).[5]

History

Context

The current French aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, entered service on 18 May 2001. As the only aircraft carrier of the French Navy, the ship's maintenance periods leave France without an available aircraft carrier. As a result the PA2 project (French: Porte-Avions 2, "Aircraft Carrier 2") started in 2003 to study the feasibility of another carrier based on the design of the British Queen Elizabeth class. The PA2 project was suspended in 2009 and ultimately cancelled in 2013.[6][7]

In October 2018, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly announced the start of a second carrier programme, this time as replacement for Charles de Gaulle. The military planning legislation for 2019–2025 (Loi de programmation militaire 2019–2025) defined a 18-month, €40M study phase, to allow the President to decide on the main characteristics of the programme by 2020.[8] In May 2020, during a visit to Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Parly stated that the new carrier would be built in Saint-Nazaire—as expected, since it is the only dry dock in France capable of harbouring ships of that size.[9]

Architecture, propulsion options and number of ships were originally to be decided by President Emmanuel Macron in July 2020, to allow him to make the announcement at Bastille Day.[10] However, on 6 July 2020, a governmental reshuffle put the Castex government in charge, forcing to delay the Defence Council to later in the year.[10]

During a visit to the Framatome site at Le Creusot on 8 December 2020, President Macron officially announced the start of the PANG programme, and selection of nuclear propulsion for the new ship.[11][12][13]

In 2022, Naval Group released new renderings of the carrier that included a revised island structure.[14][15][16]

On 18 March 2026, President Macron announced that the carrier would be named France Libre after the Free France government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during World War II.[17]

Project timeline

The hull assembly is planned to begin in 2032 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique. It is planned to be transferred to the Toulon Naval Base for the outfitting that includes also the nuclear fuelling (mid-2035). It is expected to be commissioned in 2038.[17]

Design

Propulsion

The ship will be nuclear-powered. It will feature two TechnicAtome K22 pressurised water reactors (PWR).

Flight deck

The ship will feature three Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and three Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). The equipment will be supplied by General Atomics under a Foreign Military Sales agreement.[18][15]

The deck of the carrier will be an angled flight deck with an estimated surface of 17,200 square metres (185,000 sq ft).[17]

Two side elevators with a 40 tonnes (88,000 lb) capacity.

Equipment

Aircraft

The estimated fleet of aircraft on the ship will be:[17]

Weapons

There is an ammunition store designed to sustain seven days of operations at a high tempo (for the aircraft).[17]

Construction

In May 2020, the defence minister, Florence Parly, stated that the PANG would be built in Saint-Nazaire at Chantiers de l'Atlantique.[19]

On 25 September 2025, Naval Group's Cherbourg site begins manufacturing the first components for the PANG nuclear reactors.[20][21] On 21 December, in a speech to French forces in the United Arab Emirates, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of construction of the PANG, which had been decided upon during a ministerial investment committee meeting.[22]

Preliminary design work on new 220 MW K22 nuclear reactors to power the ship was completed in 2023. A production contract for the ship itself is anticipated in 2026 after final approval by the President, Emmanuel Macron, was announced on 21 December 2025.[23][24][25][26] Hull construction is expected to begin in about 2031. Sea trials are projected to begin in around 2035.[27][28][29] It is projected to enter service in about 2038.[27]

  • General outlines of the ship
  • Interactive 3D model
  • View from the flight deck, with the distinctive French landing markings

See also

References

  1. ^ "Still tiny, the design of France's next aircraft carrier takes shape". 19 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Double the power for the French new generation aircraft carrier, the PANG". Defense Magazine. 31 December 2023.
  3. ^ Szondy, David (10 December 2020). "Macron says France's next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered". New Atlas. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  4. ^ Lye, Harry (9 December 2020). "Next French aircraft carrier to be nuclear powered". Naval Technology. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  5. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (20 August 2022). "General Atomics Wins EMALS Order for France's Future Carrier". Naval News. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Audition de l'Amiral Pierre-François Forissier, chef d'état-major de la marine, sur le projet de loi de finances pour 2010". French National Assembly (in French). National Assembly. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. ^ Cabirol, Michel (25 July 2012). "Le second porte-avions touché, coulé par la crise" (in French). La Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ Barluet, Alain (23 October 2018). "Le successeur du Charles de Gaulle est à l'étude". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 31 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "Un porte-avions nouvelle génération succédera au Charles de Gaulle en 2038". La Tribune (in French). 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (21 July 2020). "Futur(s) porte-avions: la décision repoussée". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  11. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (9 December 2020). "La France dévoile son prochain porte-avions nucléaire". Mer et Marine. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022.
  12. ^ Guibert, Nathalie (9 December 2020). "Le porte-avions " Charles-de-Gaulle " aura un successeur à propulsion nucléaire, annonce Emmanuel Macron". Le Monde (in French).{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ Huberdeau, Emmanuel (10 December 2020). "France selects nuclear propulsion option for future aircraft carrier". Janes. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  14. ^ Parken, Oliver (20 October 2022). "This Is What France's Giant Future Aircraft Carrier Will Look Like". The Drive. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b Peruzzi, Luca (13 December 2022). "French Navy new generation aircraft carrier design detailed". EDR Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  16. ^ Mehta, Aaron (19 October 2022). "France reveals first look at new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e Vavasseur, Xavier (18 March 2026). "France's Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Officially Named 'France Libre'". Naval News.
  18. ^ Mackenzie, Christina (8 December 2020). "Macron kicks off French race to build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier". Defense News. Retrieved 22 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ Saux, Lionel Le (29 May 2020). "Nouveau porte-avions: Brest contribuera à sa conception, assure Florence Parly". Le Télégramme (in French). Retrieved 10 March 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ Ève CHALMANDRIER (27 September 2025). "Naval Group Cherbourg commence la fabrication des premières pièces du futur porte-avions français". ouest-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  21. ^ "La construction du futur porte-avions a déjà commencé à Cherbourg, un chantier titanesque pour Naval Group - ICI". ICI, le média de la vie locale (in French). 22 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  22. ^ "La France entérine la construction de son porte-avions de nouvelle génération (PA-NG)". meretmarine.com (in French). 21 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  23. ^ "France To Build New Aircraft Carrier To Replace Flagship: Macron". Barron's. Dow Jones & Company. Agence France-Presse. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  24. ^ Hoorman, Chloé (23 December 2025). "For the future French aircraft carrier, Macron announces new ship 'in an era of predators'". Le Monde. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  25. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (21 December 2025). "France formally green lights PA-Ng aircraft carrier production". Naval News. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  26. ^ Paris, Charles Bremner (21 December 2025). "Macron approves €8bn aircraft carrier rivalling US warships". The Times. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  27. ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (19 June 2023). "Focus : le porte-avions français de nouvelle génération (PA-NG)". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  28. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (8 December 2020). "President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023.
  29. ^ "France: President Macron confirms that the future aircraft carrier will feature nuclear propulsion". EDR on-line. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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