This is why, in line with the last two military programming laws, and after a thorough and careful review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier. The new vessel is planned to be ready in 2038, replacing the aging Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which came into service in 2001. Like its predecessor, the new aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered and equipped with French Rafale M fighter jets. In 2023, the cost of a new aircraft carrier was estimated at about 10 billion euros by Sébastien Lecornu, defense minister at the time and now French prime minister. Macron has announced 6.5 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in extra military spending in the next two years.

Source: ABC News December 22, 2025 03:30 UTC