France is pressing ahead with a new generation aircraft carrier, a nuclear‑powered “super‑carrier” slated to replace the Charles de Gaulle , which is planned to retire by the late 2030s, observers say.

Newsweek has reached out to the French Defense Ministry and Naval Group shipbuilder for comment.

Why It Matters

France, the only country besides the United States to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier , is developing a new vessel set to become Europe’s largest warship and the centerpiece of French maritime power.

In 2021, France secured the U.S. Department of Defense's approval for the sale of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) to be incorporated into its next-generation aircraft carrier program. While a full purchase order h

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