France is set to begin construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
"In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared. I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier," Macron was quoted as saying by French media at a Christmas event at a French military base in the United Arab Emirates.
With a displacement of around 80,000 tons, the carrier will be almost twice as heavy as its predecessor, the Charles de Gaulle.
At 310 metres long and 85 metres wide, it is designed to accommodate 30 fighter jets and 2,000 crew members.
Construction is estimated to cost up to €10 million ($11.7 million). The carrier is expected to be operational from 2038, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said on X.
France is the only country besides the US that owns a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Pleasant Cycle Courses All over the Planet - 2Why is Jerome Powell being investigated? Making sense of the DOJ's probe into the Federal Reserve chair.
- 3Reports: Nepal's former PM arrested over deadly protest crackdown
- 4Creative Do-It-Yourself Ventures for Each Expertise Level
- 5Many European nations want Israel to cancel 19 new settlement plans
- More than half way to the moon, the Artemis II astronauts are grappling with a toilet problem
- Alleged maple syrup scam in Quebec uncovered by Canadian broadcaster
- Wedding trip Objections in the US
- Knesset FADC extends emergency draft for 280,000 IDF reservists until January 1
- Home Plan Tips for Seniors
- Amid growing bipartisan scrutiny of Pete Hegseth, Trump says he 'wouldn't have wanted … a second strike' on alleged Venezuelan drug boat survivors
- Hezbollah sees potential win as Israel backs down from disarmament goal
- Moving Wedding Objections for Paramount Functions
- Haifa refinery said hit in latest Iranian missile barrage
