Parly reminded that the aircraft carrier will be powered by nuclear energy. She stated that in the preliminary draft, the main stages were presented to her. “There is still a long way to go until 2038, the date of admission to active service,” she said and added that the first sea trials would only take place 11 years later, in 2036.
Naval Group and Chantiers de l"Atlantique have established a joint venture (JV) MO Porte Avions to manage France’s new generation aircraft carrier program. Naval Group owns two-thirds and Chantiers de l’Atlantique one-third of JV. The Naval Group will be responsible for the overall architecture of thevessel and the transverse systems. It will integrate the combat system, the navigation and aviation-related systems, the catapults and arrestor gear; it will supply the sub-systems of the nuclear boiler-room and integrate the boilers into the ship. Chantiers de l’Atlantique will be responsible for the design and construction of the platform itself, notably the structure, the electric propulsion, the living quarters, the steering system and overall activities such as the hydrodynamics. The JV’s relationship with sub-contractor TechnicAtome, responsible for the nuclear-powered engine, is being finalized.
Parly stated that the Navy would receive frigates in 2030: eight multi-mission frigates known as FREMM, two air defence frigates and five defence and intervention frigates. The two 4,200 tonnes, 121m long, multi-mission frigates, the second and third in a series of five, will both be delivered in 2025.
