Overview
- At a ceremony in Indret near Nantes, President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the name France Libre as reactor component work progresses on the next-generation flagship.
- The carrier is planned at roughly 78,000–80,000 tons and about 310 meters in length, powered by two K22 nuclear reactors supporting a highly electrified architecture.
- France plans to equip the ship with EMALS and advanced arresting gear from General Atomics, pairing the system with an air wing of roughly 30–40 aircraft including Rafale M, E-2D and drones, with a total complement near 2,000 personnel.
- Hull assembly is slated for 2031–2032 at Saint-Nazaire, sea trials are anticipated around 2036, and entry into service is targeted for 2038.
- The announcement comes as the lone in-service carrier Charles de Gaulle operates off Cyprus, with program costs reported around €10–15 billion and ongoing debate over expense and reliance on foreign launch technology.