A sea monster of several tens of thousands of tons, the size of three football fields which will be able to accommodate nearly 2,000 sailors by 2038. In 2025, the titanic construction of the new French aircraft carrier will begin. The one who will have to retire the famous Charles-de-Gaulle, in office since the beginning of the century. An operation estimated at 10 billion euros which should provide France with a building capable of meeting the many military challenges that will arise in the decades to come.
“This new aircraft carrier will be a building of the 21st century while the Charles-de-Gaulle is a building of the 20th century”, summarizes with Europe 1 General Jérôme Pellistrandi, editor-in-chief of the review National Defense. While emphasizing the effectiveness of the current tricolor aircraft carrier – a “fully operational” tool – he listed the list of improvements that will be on board the new jewel of the navy.
Large, stable, robust but also more comfortable
With first of all, a fairly basic but oh so essential observation in the matter: the new tricolor giant of the seas will be “bigger” than its predecessor with its 305 meters long and its total empty weight of 75,000 tonnes (compared to 42,000 for the Charles de Gaulle). “The bigger a boat, the more stable it will be, especially when the seas are bad,” said General Pellistrandi.
A more imposing size which will also facilitate the operations to be carried out inside the building. “An aircraft carrier is about twenty elevators. Some are reserved for personnel, others for food and ammunition and not all of them have the same safety features. Their modernization is easier on an aircraft carrier. bigger planes”, remarks Jérôme Pellistrandi. Its dimensions will also allow it to carry the new generation combat aircraft which is to succeed the famous “Rafale” produced by the Dassault Aviation group. Finally, the habitability reserved for sailors will be considerably increased. “In the Charles-de-Gaulle, we had a habitability of the 80s. There, in the cabins of the crews, it will not be like on the luxury liners but the comfort will be much higher”, notes General Pellistrandi.
On the purely military side, this new aircraft carrier will offer first-class performance. It will thus be able to accommodate around thirty fighter planes as well as accompanying drones. While demonstrating robustness at all times. “He will also be able to take the hits,” promises Jérôme Pellistrandi. Finally, the means of communication at his disposal will largely exceed those currently fitted to the Charles-de-Gaulle. “Clearly, it will be able to respond to the threats of 2030-2040”, summarizes the general.
A better lifespan
This new version of the French aircraft carrier will also have a longer lifespan and should be able to sail the seas for 50 years, compared to 30 currently. Enough to do as well as its American counterparts. Like the Charles-de-Gaulle, it will also benefit from nuclear propulsion, France being the only country in the world, with the United States, to master this technology.
In the opinion of a majority of specialists, acquiring this new aircraft carrier was essential. “It is a powerful political tool, capable of acting wherever the interests of France are called into question”, analyzes General Pellistrandi. As a reminder, France has the second largest maritime domain in the world behind the United States. An issue of power and military credibility for which it is now necessary to find a name. A charge that falls to Emmanuel Macron who will have to baptize this new flagship of French maritime know-how before the end of his five-year term.