Key Points and Summary – France’s flagship, the Charles de Gaulle (R91), is the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the world outside of the U.S. Navy.
-Commissioned in 2001, its nuclear propulsion and CATOBAR (catapult) system give it global reach and “sovereign” power projection, launching Rafale M and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft.
Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier France. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-This capability, which separates it from smaller European “ski-jump” carriers, allows it to operate independently or “plug into” NATO missions.
-The carrier remains central to French strategy, deploying to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, and is scheduled to be replaced by the next-generation PANG carrier around 2038.
France’s Aircraft Carrier Is the Only Nuclear-Powered Carrier Outside of the U.S.
France’s Charles de Gaulle (R91) is the flagship aircraft carrier of the French Navy, commissioned in May 2001. The ship is based at Toulon and operates worldwide to support French foreign policy, defense, and expeditionary goals.
It exists to give France a sovereign, high-end sea-based airpower capability—meaning it can launch and recover combat aircraft from the sea, independent of foreign bases. The decision to build a nuclear-powered carrier was driven at the time by France’s ambitions to act globally, deploy rapidly, and sustain operations far from its home ports.
In short, the Charles de Gaulle enables France to punch above its weight in terms of maritime power and to operate alongside its allies – or even independently when required.
190424-M-BP588-1005 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (April 24, 2019) A U.S. Marine MV-22 Osprey assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit sits on the flight deck of France’s Marine Nationale aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91). This was the second time that Ospreys have landed aboard the French vessel. Marines and Sailors assigned to the 22nd MEU and Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group are currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Maj. Joshua Smith/Released)
Purpose and Origins
When France recognized in the 1970s and 1980s that its previous carriers (the Cassard/Clemenceau class) were increasingly constrained by their size, aging systems, and conventional propulsion, the Charles de Gaulle project was born.
The carrier was laid down in the late 1980s, launched in 1994, and entered service in 2001.
The R91 was designed to provide the French Navy with global reach, giving it an aircraft carrier capable of sustained operations away from its home bases. With the new carrier, France could project air-power from the sea.
It also provided sovereignty in the air and seas, giving France independence from relying exclusively on allied bases or host nations for basing or air operations.
It also offered greater alliance interoperability; even though France valued its autonomy, the carrier allowed its navy to “plug into” NATO or coalitions when needed. And finally, it provided a new strategic deterrence. While not a nuclear-weapons launch platform, the carrier is and was more of a deterrent than its predecessors.
The French Marine Nationale aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91), and the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are underway in formation in the Red Sea, April 15, 2019. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua L. Leonard)
Many features make the carrier particularly special as well. For example, it is one of only a handful of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the world, and the only one outside the U.S. Navy. The airline also uses the CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) launch system, meaning it can launch fully loaded combat aircraft from catapults and recover them using arrestor wires. By comparison, smaller carriers typically use simpler ski-jump systems that limit aircraft weight and payload.
In terms of size and propulsion, it has a full load displacement of roughly 42,500 tonnes. And, while it is significantly smaller than American supercarriers, it is still large among European warships. The carrier carries a mixed air wing capable of strike, air defense, reconnaissance, and airborne early warning, including Dassault Rafale M fighters and E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft. The carrier’s nuclear propulsion is unique, too, providing several endurance advantages.
Specifically, it does not need to refuel with fossil fuels for long durations, enabling longer deployments and greater flexibility.
Operational Status and Current Role
The Charles de Gaulle is in active service and in operational use.
In April 2024, the carrier joined a major NATO-led naval exercise – Neptune Strike – in the Mediterranean under NATO command.
It plays a vital role in alliance operations and deterrence, specifically in the context of recent Russian aggression.
In early 2025, the carrier strike group, under deployment “Clemenceau 25,” sailed into the Indo-Pacific, including operations with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
The ship therefore plays a significant role in power projection for Europe and NATO —not to mention France — alongside expeditionary air operations, coalition maritime campaigns, and signaling.
And today, the ship remains central to France’s carrier aviation capability and overall naval strategy, ensuring that France can respond globally and quickly, maintain maritime air control, and support allied operations when necessary.
What Next?
In the coming years, France will move towards replacing the Charles de Gaulle with the ambitious Porte-avions de nouvelle generation (PANG) program.
The future carrier is expected to enter into service around 2038, with construction of major components already underway and the full-scale build set to begin around 2031.
Paris has also recently approved the purchase of a third electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) catapult track for the PANG, making clear that France is all-in on developing and utilizing cutting-edge carrier aviation technology – something that will serve its navy and air force well as unmanned drones and heavier aircraft enter service.
Moreover, debate continues in France over the possibility of a second carrier in addition to the PANG, designed to ensure uninterrupted carrier presence while the flagship undergoes maintenance or modernization.
PANG Aircraft Carrier from France. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The argument in favor of developing a second carrier is simple: having only one operational carrier at a time limits operational flexibility and risks a significant gap in power-projection.
With these ongoing developments in France, it’s clear that the Charles de Gaulle will remain active for perhaps another decade or more, but gradually cede its central role and responsibilities to a whole new era of French carrier aviation.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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