France Wants The US Navy's New High-Tech Aircraft Launcher To Be Installed On Their Next Aircraft Carrier

French Armaments Procurement Agency members observe flight operations on USS Gerald R. Ford in April 2021. US Navy/MCS3 Dalton Lowing 

Business Insider: The US Navy's new high-tech aircraft launcher is being prepped for deployment on France's new nuclear-powered carrier 

* France is making plans to build a next-generation aircraft carrier to replace Charles de Gaulle. 

* The new carrier will have the same aircraft launch and recovery systems as the US's newest carriers. 

* The new French carrier is expected to enter service in 2038 and remain there until at least 2080. 

In September, US defense firm General Atomics announced that it had received a contract from the US Navy to continue its development and evaluation of its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear in preparation for their potential sale to France. 

It is the latest development in France's ambition to build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a project known as the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération, sometimes called PANG, which translates to "New Generation Aircraft Carrier."  

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WNU Editor: France's new aircraft carrier is expected in 2038. A lot can happen between now and 2038.

France's Only Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Is Impressive

French navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, right, and US Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. US Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Doug Pearlman  

Christian Orr, 19FortyFive: Why France's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is no joke 

* The only two countries that have nuclear-powers carriers are both Western powers and NATO members. 

* The US Navy has 11 such flattops while the French Navy has one, the Charles de Gaulle. 

* Here's a detailed look at Charles de Gaulle. 

 In recent weeks, we at 19FortyFive have published several articles on how Russia's repeated attempts to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier have ended in miserable and ignominious failure. It is no small source of embarrassment for Vladimir Putin and his Russian Navy admirals that the only two countries who have successfully launched and deployed nuke carriers are both Western powers and NATO members to boot: the United States and France. The US Navy has 11 such mighty warships while the French Navy (Marine Natiionale) has one, the Charles de Gaulle.

Let's take a more detailed look at France's supercarrier. 

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WNU Editor: The Charles de Gaulle will be making a deployment to the Pacific in 2025 .... French Navy Plans Aircraft Carrier Mission to the Pacific in 2025 (Naval News).

The French Nuclear Sub SNA Emeraude Accompanied By Support Ship BSAM Seine Conducting Patrols In The South China Sea

The SNA Emeraude was accompanied by support ship BSAM Seine for the passage, Defence Minister said 

France 24: French submarine patrols South China Sea, likely angering Beijing 

A French nuclear attack submarine was among two navy ships that recently conducted a patrol through the South China Sea, its defence minister announced, in a move likely to anger Beijing, which claims most of the strategic waters as its territory. 

The SNA Emeraude was accompanied by support ship BSAM Seine for the passage, Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Twitter late Monday. 

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WNU Editor: They are far away from their home port.

French President Macron Announces Plan For A New Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

An artist’s impression of PANG (Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation, or next-generation aircraft carrier).

USNI News: President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program

French President Emmanuel Macron today officially green-lighted the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as part of the PANG program. 

The future flagship of the French Navy is intended to replace the existing FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) aircraft carrier around 2038. 

The announcement was made during Macron’s visit to French nuclear power company Framatome, which designs and supplies nuclear steam systems and services. 

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 More News On French President Macron Announcing A Plan For A New Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

France to build new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier -- AP 

Macron kicks off French race to build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier -- Defense News 

Here’s France’s Plan For Its New Nuclear Powered Supercarrier -- Warzone/The Drive 

France's next-generation aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered, says Macron -- Reuters 

France’s New Aircraft Carrier Will Be Nuclear Powered -- Naval News 

France will build nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace Charles de Gaulle flagship, says Macron -- RT

France To Repair Perle Nuclear Attack Submarine Damaged In June Fire By Replacing The Nose From Another Submarine That Retired

The French Navy submarine Perle approaches Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, from the Elizabeth River, to participate in Exercise Auriga 2010. U.S. NAVY/MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS TODD A. SCHAFFER 

Defense News: Naval Group will repair French ‘Perle’ nuclear sub damaged by fire 

PARIS – France’s Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, confirmed on Oct. 22 that the nuclear attack submarine Perle, which caught fire in June whilst under maintenance, will be repaired over the next six months. 

The undamaged aft of the vessel will be cut away from the damaged fore and then welded to the front of the Saphir, the nuclear attack submarine that was withdrawn from active service a year ago. 

The decision will allow the French Navy to maintain its full fleet of nuclear attack submarines for the next decade while aging Rubis-class subs are slowly replaced by the new Suffren class. 

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Update #1: France To Repair Perle Nuclear Attack Submarine Destroyed in June Fire (Defense World) Update #2: France’s Fire-Damaged Nuclear Submarine Will Return To Service After A Nose Job (Warzone/The Drive) 

WNU Editor: This type of repair job has happened before. From The Wazone .... 

.... This kind of “nose job” is not unheard of for a badly damaged submarine. After the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack boat USS San Francisco collided with an underwater seamount in the central Pacific in 2005, the bow of the USS Honolulu was subsequently grafted onto it, as The War Zone explained here.

Fire On Board Unarmed French Nuclear Attack Submarine At Toulon Harbour

Sailors aboard the French submarine "Perle" (C) inspect the vessel in Portsmouth ahead of celebrations. A fire broke out on June 12, 2020 on board of the 'Perle', one of the French army's six nuclear-powered attack submarines, but without causing any injuries, while it underwent inspections at Toulon naval base. Image Credit: AFP

AFP: Fire on board unarmed French nuclear submarine

Some 40 people were evacuated from the vessel with no injuries reported.

Marseille: A fire broke out Friday, without causing injuries, on board an unarmed French nuclear submarine undergoing renovation at a naval base in Toulon in the country's southeast, officials said.

The attack submarine La Perle (The Pearl), one of six in France's arsenal, had no nuclear fuel nor weapons on board, said the Mediterranean maritime authority. Some 40 people were evacuated from the vessel with no injuries reported.

The fire broke out at about 10.30 am in a hard-to-access part of the lower bow section of the submarine, and was still raging by mid-afternoon, according to the navy, which feared substantial material damage.

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Update: French nuclear submarine on fire at Toulon harbour: prefecture (Reuters)

WNU Editor: There appears to be extensive damage.

Update #2: A French Submarine Caught Fire In Drydock. It Could Lead Paris To Rethink Its Nuclear Deterrence Strategy. (Forbes).

French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle Heads Back To Port Over Fears That 40 Sailors Have Contracted The Covid-19 Coronavirus

The French Navy flagship carrier is equipped with a medical unit on board complete with a resuscitation unit. All 40 sailors with suspected Covid-19 are being kept in solitary confinement

Daily Mail: Coronavirus alert on French Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle amid fears 40 sailors have the bug after NATO training exercise with allies including a British warship

* Sailors with suspected cases of Covid-19 are being kept in solitary confinement
* The aircraft carrier had taken part in training exercises off the Denmark coast
* It is now returning back to its home port of Toulon as quickly as possible

The flagship of the French Navy is at the centre of a coronavirus emergency - following a training exercise with NATO allies including a British frigate.

The nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, one of the largest warships in the world, is thought to have at least 40 cases of the virus among its force of around 2,000.

It was steaming back to its home port of Toulon, in the south of France, on Wednesday morning as a screening team prepared to board.

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More News On French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle Heading Back To Port Over Fears That 40 Sailors Have Contracted The Covid-19 Coronavirus

Coronavirus: French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle heads back to port after possible Covid-19 outbreak -- AFP
French Carrier Charles de Gaulle Heading Home Amid Suspicion of Covid-19 -- Naval News
French aircraft carrier returns to port amid possible coronavirus outbreak; countrywide deaths surpass 10,000 -- FOX News
French Aircraft Carrier Returns To Port After Suspected COVID-19 Cases Found Aboard -- NPR
France's Lone Aircraft Carrier Cuts Mission Short Due To 40 Likely COVID-19 Cases -- Zero Hedge