France gives go-ahead for PA-Ng aircraft carrier build

PA-Ng is planned to enter service in 2038 as a replacement for the CVN Charles de Gaulle . (Naval Group)

The French government has given the green light for the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) to replace the French Navy's current CVN, Charles de Gaulle , in the late 2030s.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the go-ahead for the Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PA-Ng) programme on 21 December during a visit to a French military base in Abu Dhabi. “In line with the last two military programming laws, and after a thorough and comprehensive review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier,” he said. “The decision to give the final go-ahead was made [last] week.”

Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin confirmed the decision in a social media post later that day. Current estimates put the cost of the PA-Ng programme at around EUR11 billion (USD12.9 billion).

Intended to replace Charles de Gaulle from 2038, the PA-Ng programme commenced its design phase back in December 2020. The Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) and industrial prime contractor MO Porte-Avions (a joint venture of Naval Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique) have subsequently undertaken preliminary design and system design activities to mature the ship and systems design ahead of approval for build; TechnicAtome is separately responsible, under contract to the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique, for the design and delivery of the nuclear plant based on two K-22 pressurised water reactors.