The "De Gaulle" Aircraft Carrier May Extend Its Service Life

Reference News Network, October 17 According to the U.S. Defense News weekly website on October 14, French Navy Chief of Staff Christophe Cluzel told lawmakers during a hearing on the 14th that France is assessing whether to extend the service of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle beyond its planned retirement date of 2038; if the assessment is approved, France will have a dual aircraft carrier fleet.

The French Navy plans to replace the Charles de Gaulle with the new generation aircraft carrier PANG (PANG stands for "PANG" in French, meaning "New Generation Aircraft Carrier") in 2038 (the latter is currently the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in service outside of the U.S. Navy). Cluzel stated that during the upcoming major overhaul of the Charles de Gaulle, France will evaluate whether it meets the conditions for extending its service life based on the status of the carrier's various systems and nuclear power plant.

Currently, France has only one aircraft carrier, and whenever the Charles de Gaulle requires periodic maintenance, France has no aircraft carrier available.

Cost is a significant obstacle. The estimated cost of the new generation PANG aircraft carrier is as high as 10 billion euros, which could at least build 10 frigates of the Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) class.

Cluzel stated that having two aircraft carriers would allow France to maintain a state of readiness based on the home port of the Charles de Gaulle in Toulon. He said, "Having a dual aircraft carrier capability is a political goal," and if France wants to maintain a regular maritime deployment, it needs three aircraft carriers.

He mentioned that the new generation PANG and the Charles de Gaulle will have a two-year overlap in service between 2036 and 2038. He stated that this is a necessary measure to ensure seamless operational capability. This will be the second time since the late 1990s that France has had two aircraft carriers in service simultaneously. At that time, the conventional-powered aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau were in service together.

Cluzel said that the key factors in assessing the extension of the Charles de Gaulle's service life are the wear and tear of the carrier's reactor core and the feasibility of extending the nuclear fuel usage cycle. Relevant research results will be released in early 2029 and will serve as the basis for the final decision.

He added, "But the assessment also includes all supporting systems of the carrier, because the operational capability of the carrier must not ultimately be constrained by the status of any single auxiliary system, nor can it be weakened due to problems with any auxiliary system; therefore, this will be a comprehensive and integrated assessment."

Although U.S. President Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to revert to using steam catapults, France still plans to equip the PANG with American-made electromagnetic catapults.

Cluzel stated that electromagnetic catapults demonstrate "extremely strong reliability." Since the U.S. military began using electromagnetic catapults, nearly 40,000 launches have been completed, with an availability rate of about 98%. He said, "This performance is outstanding for launch systems. In terms of operational flexibility, it also provides a significant combat advantage, capable of launching heavy fighter jets as well as drones."

Cluzel believes that France does not need to equip short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft. He said that such aircraft always have to make trade-offs in range or payload capacity. He stated that the PANG is positioned as a "sea control and air superiority aircraft carrier."

Cluzel said that given that the competition for sea and air superiority is now "almost ubiquitous," sea control and air superiority aircraft carriers have become a necessity; the first step of any military operation is to seize local sea and air superiority. (Translated by Pan Xiaoyan)