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
Gulf countries continue to face Iran attacks as criticial energy infrastructure at risk - 2‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ trailer is raising eyebrows among Potterheads: ‘Where’s the whimsical color?’
- 3Scientists solve the mystery of the prehistoric 'Burtele Foot'
- 4Astrophotographer captures rare footage of the Hubble Telescope crossing the sun (video)
- 5When preventable infections turn deadly behind bars | The Excerpt
- What is the Insurrection Act? Can Trump really use the military to 'put an end' to Minneapolis ICE protests?
- The most effective method to Offset Album Rates with Liquidity Needs
- Merz says army could be involved in mine-clearing from Hormuz
- Sound and Delightful: 12 Nutritious Smoothie Recipes
- Four Dead in Last Month From Animal Attacks in Nepal
- Best Internet based Course for Learning Another Dialect: Which Stage Do You Like?
- Reconnecting with an old friend is a story of distance, loss and rediscovery
- Spanish bishops and government sign deal for compensation of church sexual abuse victims
- Fossils from China show complex life evolved millions of years earlier than once thought
