France announced the shipbuilding firm Naval Group was presenting the concept of its next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the 2022 Euronaval trade conference held in Paris. The Porte Avion Nouvelle Génération (PANG) will be able to transport up to 32 jet fighters and a handful of helicopters.
France's New Warship on the Horizon
The aircraft carrier is going to be designed to be able to manage and deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), tactical battle system, with command/ control aircraft as part of its capabilities, reported The Defense Post.
One of the goals in settling on the ship's design that can be modified piece by bit, as well as upgrading the combat system capable of evolving, commented program director Olivier de Saint Julien, as noted by Breaking Defense.
He said they don't know what the next technology trend will be in the next 15 years. There is a necessity for hull enlargement to enable easier integration into the carrier.
A new carrier like the PANG is slated to replace the French nuclear reactor-equipped Charles de Gaulle carrier that is still in service. It is expected to be ready in 2038, with sea trials beginning in 2036 after it is built, giving it a two-year lead time before entering service with the maritime forces of France in 2038.
Next-Generation Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Features
The ship that the Naval Group will create is roughly 310 meters long and 85 meters wide, and it will be powered by twin nuclear reactors produced by TechnicAtome, which will power three shaft drives on the massive ship.
It will enable long deployment compared to a conventionally powered ship. Refueling for reactors will be done every ten years too.
On board the next-generation PANG is approximately 2,000 crew members, including aircraft engineers, to give maintenance support and overall resorts.
Shipbuilding Firms To Build the European Patrol Corvette
At the Euronaval 2022 show in France, a group of firms signed a tentative cooperative agreement to assist the European Patrol Corvette project. Naval Group, Fincantieri, Naviris, and Navantia are some of the organizations working on the corvette.
A fundamental concept for a second-tier surface combatant vessel with a length of 110 meters (361 feet) and displacement of 3,000 tonnes (2.7 million kg) would be constructed through the two-year initiative.
The proposal was presented in 2021 for the European Defense Fund's Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette request. This was chosen previously in the year by the European Commission.
Several countries decided to fund the program, including Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, and Norway, which will get the corvette later. In addition to shipbuilders, 40 companies with locations across 12 European states will provide maritime technology and related equipment.
By fostering more member-state collaboration and strengthening the sector, the European Patrol Corvette project is expected to contribute strongly to European independence in the naval domain.
Following the policy of the European Commission, the Naval Group continued by stating that the initiative, which pursues excellence, intends to increase the expertise of other qualified European companies.
The warship developed from the venture will be flexible, interoperable, sustainable, and inventive to complement emerging operational requirements.
According to France, the Naval Group, part of the European Patrol Corvette project, was tasked to build PANG. This next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will replace Charles De Gaulle in 2038.