France is studying keeping the Charles de Gaulle beyond 2038, as the Navy chief discusses France Libre and the FDI’s performance

France is examining whether the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle can keep sailing beyond 2038, when it is due to be retired, which would give the country two aircraft carriers. The issue was raised by the Chief of the French Navy, Admiral Christophe Cluzel, at a hearing of the National Assembly’s Defence Committee on the 2027 budget on Wednesday, October 14. It was his first parliamentary hearing since taking up the post in July.

The study will be carried out as part of the ship’s next major technical shutdown and will examine the wear of the reactor cores, keeping the fuel for longer and all the auxiliary systems. The results are expected in early 2029. “The studies will cover all the arteries of the aircraft carrier, because the aircraft carrier is as old as its arteries, and its availability must not depend on the availability of even one auxiliary system,” Cluzel said.

“Do we need two aircraft carriers? Two aircraft carriers allow permanent readiness to be maintained from Toulon. Two aircraft carriers are a political ambition and it is not for me to judge whether it is appropriate,” the admiral said. A continuous presence at sea would require three ships.

The new nuclear-powered carrier, the PANG, named France Libre, will replace the Charles de Gaulle in 2038, with a two-year overlap from 2036. “The transition to such a capability must be made without any interruption, at the risk of losing skills and needing a very, very long time to rebuild them,” Cluzel explained. France Libre will be 310 metres long and displace about 80,000 tonnes, at a cost of around €10 billion, against 261.5 metres and 42,000 tonnes for the Charles de Gaulle.

France Libre will have three General Atomics EMALS electromagnetic catapults, despite Trump’s order in August for the US Navy to return to steam catapults. Cluzel said that “the American decision has not yet been taken” and that he does not see the French contract being threatened. A French version would be feasible, but in timescales “far exceeding” the entry of France Libre into service. French sailors will be sent to the United States to train on the catapults and a significant stock of spare parts will be bought.

The admiral also referred to the FDI frigate, saying it “meets all its promises” and is “extremely seaworthy and stable, contrary to what you may have read”, while calling its flat-panel radar “remarkable”.