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
Everything you should know before booking a trip to Spain - 2ACA subsidies latest: Making sense of what's happening with health care after Republicans revolt, forcing a vote on funding extension
- 3Flight cancellations: Full list of 40 airports hit by FAA cuts amid government shutdown
- 4Pick Your Favored method of transportation
- 5Manhunt for Brown University shooter continues: FBI releases photos of suspect, announces $50K reward
- How did Hugh Jackman nail his latest role? Sequins, tighty-whities and embracing 'zero embarrassment.'
- Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveals weird wobbling jets in rare sun-facing tail
- Ferrari Cavalcade Suspended After High-Speed Crash in Argentina Involving a Purosangue
- The Best Traditional Music Arrangers in History
- Asia's Noteworthy Destinations: A Voyager's Aide
- NASA, in a rare move, cuts space station mission short after an astronaut's medical issue
- Cygnus XL brings cargo to the ISS for 1st time | Space photo of the day for Dec. 1, 2025
- Finding Your Motivation: Moves toward a Satisfying Life
- 4 Family SUVs: Joining Solace and Style
