France will construct a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier capable of carrying 30 fighter jets and accommodating about 2,000 sailors, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday, citing the need to strengthen the country’s maritime power in an increasingly unstable global environment.

Speaking to French troops in Abu Dhabi, Macron said the decision to proceed with the large-scale project was taken this week following detailed assessments and in line with France’s recent military planning laws. He stressed that strong naval capabilities are essential “in an age of predators.”

The new carrier, expected to enter service in 2038, will replace the Charles de Gaulle, which has been operational since 2001. The vessel will have a displacement of around 78,000 tons and measure 310 meters in length, significantly larger than the current carrier but still smaller than the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest warship.

Like its predecessor, the new carrier will be powered by nuclear energy and equipped with Rafale M fighter aircraft. According to the French defense ministry, it will be designed for rapid, long-range and heavily armed deployments over extended periods.

Macron said the project would support hundreds of suppliers, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, and pledged personal oversight, including a planned visit to the shipyard early next year.

The cost of the carrier was estimated at around 10 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in 2023. Macron has also announced an additional 6.5 billion euros in defense spending over the next two years, with total military expenditure projected to reach 64 billion euros by 2027—double the level when he took office in 2017.

France currently has about 200,000 active military personnel and more than 40,000 reservists, making it the European Union’s second-largest armed force. The government aims to increase the number of reservists to 80,000 by 2030.

Source: AP