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
Arrow Exploration brings new Colombian oil well on stream ahead of schedule and under budget - 2Well known Worldwide Caf\u00e9s to Experience
- 3Former school bus aide pleads guilty to assaulting 3 autistic students in Colorado
- 4Foreign military officials can become Israel's ambassadors, senior IDF commander tells 'Post'
- 5These 2 moon rovers used cameras and lasers to hunt for simulated water ice — and one looks like WALL-E
- Arctic sea ice just dropped to an alarming new low
- IDF says up to 90% of Iran’s weapons industry could be hit within days
- 'Home Alone' actor Joe Pesci said 'no' to this stunt until he saw a 9-year-old girl do it, says director Chris Columbus
- 6 Hints to Upgrade Your Charm, In addition to Your Mentality
- Cyprus: War-related tourism concerns and climate change efforts
- I thought I knew the night sky, but what I saw from the Canary Islands left me speechless
- Manual for Financial plan Agreeable PC
- Israel says soldiers wounded in Gaza fighting amid fragile truce
- Ukraine's naval drones are gunning for Russia's 'shadow fleet.' A security source says a tanker just suffered a critical hit.
