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
Remain Fit: Powerful Wellness and Work-out Schedules for a Better You - 2Benin coup thwarted by loyalist troops, president tells nation
- 3Foods with healthy-sounding buzzwords could be hiding added sugar in plain sight
- 4I asked ChatGPT who would win a Golden Globes. Here's what it got right — and totally wrong.
- 5Should you get an RSV vaccine this fall? What to know and where to get a shot
- The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch
- Woman shocked to welcome baby after experiencing stomach pain on Christmas
- From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation – and competition – will make 2026 an exciting year for space
- NASA’s Pandora telescope will study stars in detail to learn about the exoplanets orbiting them
- Carry Nature Inside with These Staggering Plant Decisions
- Flu season is ramping up, and some experts are "pretty worried"
- Two policemen injured at religious youth protest in Jerusalem marking Ahuvia Sandak's death
- Treasure trove found in Egyptian tomb solves ancient mystery
- Select Your Go-To Bluetooth Earphones
