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France In development Naval Group
France Libre (PANG)
France's next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, approved by President Macron and named 'France Libre' in March 2026, to succeed the Charles de Gaulle as the French Navy's sole carrier strike platform. Roughly double the Charles de Gaulle's displacement, it will use EMALS catapults (a first for a non-US carrier) instead of steam catapults and is being built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique with Naval Group as principal architect. Hull assembly is planned to begin around 2031-2032, with entry into service targeted for 2038.
1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-26
80,000
t
27
kn
Pricing: Program cost not fully disclosed; ~800 companies involved in the industrial program
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Development status
Limited · 1 operator
Status: announced.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | Aircraft air wing (Rafale M F5, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, helicopters) |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 310 m |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 0 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Naval Group and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-26.
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Navantia Alvaro de Bazan class (F100) Frequently asked questions
What is the main armament of the Naval Group France Libre (PANG)? +
The Naval Group France Libre (PANG)'s primary weapon is the Aircraft air wing (Rafale M F5, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, helicopters).
What is the Naval Group France Libre (PANG) used for? +
The Naval Group France Libre (PANG) is a warship typically used for air superiority, deep strike.
How many countries operate the Naval Group France Libre (PANG)? +
The Naval Group France Libre (PANG) is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Naval Group France Libre (PANG) cost? +
Naval Group France Libre (PANG): Program cost not fully disclosed; ~800 companies involved in the industrial program. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
