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
Sea Ice Hits New Low in Hottest Year on Record for the Arctic - 2The Golden Globes gift bag has nearly $1 million worth of swag for some winners and presenters. What's in it?
- 3Popular Home Rug Series For You
- 4Heading to Florida for NASA's Artemis 2 moon launch? Here's what to know before you go
- 5IDF finds weapon of slain hostage Capt. Daniel Perez in booby-trapped Gaza compound
- Tire Brands for Senior Drivers: Guaranteeing Security and Solace
- Former 'Bachelorette' welcomes 1st baby via emergency c-section
- Father and son spending Christmas together after health scares
- Why won't NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts land on the moon when they get there?
- Environmental groups urge Germany to cut oil and gas dependence
- Artemis 2 astronauts reveal adorable zero-g indicator 'Rise' | Space photo of the day for March 31, 2026
- Floods, Landslides Triggered By Heavy Rain In Afghanistan Leave 77 Dead In 10 days, Authorities Say
- Over 250,000 cases of shredded cheese recalled over possible metal fragments
- AI is providing emotional support for employees – but is it a valuable tool or privacy threat?
