Construction begins on Europe’s largest aircraft carrier: 1,000-feet long and over 80,000 tons

The construction of the PANG / France Libre, the largest warship ever built in Europe at 1,017 feet long and approximately 78,000 to 80,000 tons, marks a major shift in the continent’s defense strategy as international tensions continue to rise, with threats emerging in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and the Arctic.

The France Libre will measure 1,017 feet (310 meters) in length, significantly surpassing the Charles de Gaulle, which is 853 feet (260 meters) long, and placing it in a class that until now has been occupied only by American supercarriers. This dramatic increase in scale makes it the largest naval combat platform ever constructed in Europe.

Europe’s largest aircraft carrier will incorporate modern components

The France Libre will be powered by two K22 nuclear reactors, derived from French nuclear submarine technology, allowing it to operate for decades without refueling. This capability is essential to ensuring a sustained presence in strategically important waters such as the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic.

The ship will also feature EMALS electromagnetic catapults, a technology currently used only on the world’s most advanced aircraft carriers, such as the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers of the United States. This system makes it possible to launch heavier aircraft, drones, unmanned systems, and future fighter jets developed under the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program.

The design includes operations with Rafale M fighter jets, NH90 helicopters, drones, and the future FCAS aircraft, forming an air wing of around 40 aircraft. This configuration places the France Libre at a level no other European navy can currently match.

Construction is already underway, and the official timeline targets entry into service in 2038, coinciding with the retirement of the Charles de Gaulle. It is expected to be the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Europe during that decade.

The PANG / France Libre is being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, the only dry dock in France capable of accommodating a vessel of this size. In addition, the construction of its nuclear systems and related components is being shared between Naval Group and TechnicAtome, with key work taking place in Nantes-Indret and Cherbourg.

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