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
Most loved Public Dish: Which One Addresses Its Nation Best?- The most effective method to Decisively Plan Your Nursing Profession for the Best Compensation Results
- Flourishing in a Remote Workplace: Individual Techniques
- Most loved Well known Accessory Styles For 2024
- Winter solstice 2025 marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere today
- Politics at the table? Drinking the wine you brought? An etiquette expert's Thanksgiving dos and don'ts.
- Hypothermia claims newborn in Gaza and more babies are at risk, doctor says
- ‘Trip of suffering’: Gaza evacuee details 24-hour journey to South Africa
- People with depression can treat themselves at home with new device
