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
Understanding Various Sorts of Financial balances: An Extensive Outline - 2'Crammed into a cell with vermin at New Year'
- 3'Heated Rivalry' is just the tip of the iceberg. How hockey became the sexiest sport
- 4Solar storms can trigger auroras on Earth. This star’s explosion could destroy a planet’s atmosphere
- 5Many European nations want Israel to cancel 19 new settlement plans
- Charli xcx teases new film ‘The Moment’: What to know about the A24 movie
- Dominating Monetary Administration: A Bit by bit Manual for Making an Individual Financial plan
- The secret appeal of Harlan Coben’s messy, addictive TV thrillers
- New Jordan security fence could be done in early 2028
- A quick recap of 'Stranger Things' Seasons 1-4, plus key episodes to rewatch before Volume 1 of the final season drops
- Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro operated on for hernia
- Bennu asteroid samples provide clues about solar system origins and 'space gum'
- An Extended time of Self-Reflection: Self-awareness through Journaling
- Step by step instructions to Choose the Right Auto Crash Legal counselor for Your Case
