France Launches Construction of New Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Costing Nearly 10 Billion Euros

SighingCashier · 2026-03-19T06:40:16+00:00

French President Macron announced in Nantes the launch of construction for a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier named "Free France," with an estimated cost of nearly €10 billion. The project will create jobs and boost the defense industry. The new carrier will become Europe's largest warship, scheduled to enter service in the late 2030s, to replace the existing Charles de Gaulle-class carrier.

SighingCashier

2026-03-19 06:40:16

Abstract generation in progress

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday in the western city of Nantes that the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been initiated, and it will be named the “Liberté” (Liberty) France. He stated that this new aircraft carrier is a guarantee for France to remain independent for the next few decades.

Macron said at a shipbuilding site in Nantes that the construction of the new carrier is expected to cost nearly 10 billion euros (about HKD 8.99 billion), create jobs, benefit domestic companies, and develop the defense industry. He emphasized that without a strong defense industry, there would be military dependence, strategic subservience, and economic submission.

French media reported that the new aircraft carrier, with a full load displacement of over 70,000 tons, will become the largest warship in Europe by tonnage, and is expected to replace the “Charles de Gaulle” nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which has a full load displacement of over 40,000 tons, by the late 2030s.

After the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on the 28th of last month, France deployed the “Charles de Gaulle” carrier strike group to waters near Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

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