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
'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Season 3 premieres tomorrow. Here's what you need to know to catch up. - 2the Wild in Style: The Reduced Portage Mustang's Bold Heritage
- 3American Airlines Flight Attendant Disappears Amid Layover in Colombia, Authorities Investigating
- 4Exploring School Life: Self-awareness and Illustrations
- 5Popular Home Rug Series For You
- Unsold Rams May Be Less expensive Than You Suspect
- Windows to the Previous: An Excursion Through the World's Notable Engineering
- JFK's granddaughter reveals terminal cancer diagnosis, criticizes cousin RFK Jr.
- New Gaza militia declares war on Hamas: 'Your dirty shoes are more honorable'
- Most loved Well known Accessory Styles For 2024
- Meet the Artemis crew in NASA's first astronaut mission to the moon in more than a half-century
- Rocket Lab launches mystery satellite for 'confidential commercial customer' (video)
- Israel says it killed armed Hamas 'terrorists' in Gaza
- Woman, 60, Is Finally Traveling the World Decades After Husband’s Death Held Her Back
