Charles De Gaulle News

France's next-generation aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered and replace the national fleet's flagship warship, the Charles de Gaulle, in 2038, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.The 11th carrier-vessel in the French Navy's history will be built by French defense contractor Naval Group and equipped with the new electromagnetic aircraft launch system developed by U.S. company General Atomics, French officials said.The carrier will be 300 meters long and have a deadweight of 75,000 tons.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, navies adjusted how they operate at home and while deployed, to keep their forces ready for any missions as they keep their Sailors, families, communities, as well as allies and partners safe from the coronavirus.Navies have taken a number of prudent preventative measures to limit outbreaks, mitigate cases of infection and reduce the community spread of the virus.Speaking during his May 29 “On The Horizon: Navigating the European and African Theaters” podcast, Admiral James G. Foggo III, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, said The U.S.

Fire broke out onboard a nuclear submarine docked at the Mediterranean port of Toulon on Friday and was still raging but under control by afternoon, local officials said.Nobody was hurt and no nuclear materials or weapons were on board the vessel, the Perle, which is in dry dock for repairs, the prefecture said in a statement.“The fire is under control. It will not spread, but it has not yet been put out,” a spokeswoman for the Mediterranean prefecture told Reuters.The prefecture also said that smoke coming from the Perle was not radioactive.Dozens of firefighters were on the scene…

Shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique said it has cut first steel for the lead vessel in a series of four new Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Force (BRF) replenishment ships for the French Navy. The four ships are scheduled to be delivered from end 2022 to 2029.The order for the construction of the four vessels was placed in January 2019 to the temporary association of companies formed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group. This order for the French Navy is part of a Franco-Italian program led by OCCAR…

France’s armed forces minister blamed an outbreak of coronavirus aboard the navy’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on mistakes taken to counter the disease.“An inquiry shows the ship’s commanders and their medical advisors over-estimated the ability of the aircraft carrier and its flotilla to confront the coronavirus,” Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told a parliamentary committee.(Reporting by Tangi Salaun; Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Jon Boyle)

Almost half the 2,300-strong crew on France’s sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the armed forces minister said on Friday.Florence Parly told parliament that 1,081 out of 2,010 tests carried out had shown a positive result.

France’s flagship aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle is returning to its home port early after about 40 crew members showed signs of COVID-19 symptoms, the armed forces ministry said on Wednesday.The personnel were under strict medical observation on board the nuclear-powered carrier, which had most recently been taking part in exercises with northern European navies in the Baltic Sea.“The first cases showed symptoms recently,” the ministry said in a statement. “There are no signs of aggravated cases among the patients.The aircraft carrier would dock in Toulon…

A temporary consortium formed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group has been awarded a contract for four Logistic Support Ships (LSS). As part of the deal, MAN Energy Solutions will supply the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard with a total of 16 engines in connection with the building of the four refueling tankers for the French Navy.Each vessel will feature a diesel-electric propulsion system with two shaft lines and propellers. MAN’s scope of supply covers 2 × MAN 12V32/44CR engines (2 × 7,200kW) + 2 × MAN 8L32/44CR engines (2 × 4,800kW) resiliently mounted on baseframes.

Naval Group has launched the seventh multi-mission FREMM frigate for the French Navy from a specialist facility in Lorient.Known as Alsace, the vessel is the first of the two air defence frigates under the FREMM programme  – Multi-Mission European Frigates – for the French Navy and the ninth multi-missions FREMM frigate.Thirteen months after the keel laying of the first block, the FREMM DA Alsace is released from the construction form of the Naval Group site of Lorient. Ninth multi-missions FREMM frigate, it is also the seventh one for the French Navy, ordered by the OCCAr on behalf of the DGA..In order to answer the operational requirements…

The French defense procurement agency “Direction Générale de l’Armement” (DGA)  signed a contract for the procurement of four new Logistic Support Ships (LSS) for the French Navy.The temporary consortium formed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group has been notified of the order for LSS and of their first six years of operational maintenance.According to a press release from the French industrial group specialised in naval defence and marine renewable energy, this order for the French Navy is part of the Franco-Italian LSS Programme led by OCCAr, the international Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation, on behalf of DGA…

The sole prime contractor for the entire mid-life refit of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, Naval Group, said it has returned the vessel to the French Navy. The vessel will now start ramping up its systems before returning to its operational cycle.Designed and built by Naval Group and entering service in 2001, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, further to its modernization, has now entered the technological era of the 21st century. This mid-life refit included unprecedented renovations and a density of work that gave the project a level of complexity unseen until now.

Naval leaders from the United Kingdom, France and the United States signed an agreement June 1, designed to increase coordination for anti-submarine warfare activities of the three countries as they operate in the 5th Fleet area of operations. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) Vice Adm. Kevin M. Donegan signed the trilateral agreement with Vice Adm. Louis-Michel Guillaume, commander, French Submarine and Strategic Oceanic Forces (ALFOST) and Rear Adm. Robert K. Tarrant, commander, Operations of the Royal Navy, at Donegan's headquarters in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This agreement follows the signing of a document by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom Adm. Sir Philip Jones, and French Chief of Naval Staff Adm.

On May 2, 2017, the French Directorate-General for Armaments (DGA) awarded a contract to renovate three of the five La Fayette-class Frigates (FLF) currently in service with the French Navy to DCNS. Nathalie Smirnov, Head of Services at DCNS, declared, “DCNS thanks the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) for its confidence and welcomes this notification related to the platform and combat system modernization of the La Fayette class frigates. These operations are major and have never been realized so far on this kind of frigate.

Strike aircraft from nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) flew their first missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the fight to destroy the ISIL terrorist organization, Dec. 29. Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 join French nuclear powered aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91) in conducting combined combat operations in Iraq and Syria from the Arabian Gulf. Rear Adm. Bret Batchelder, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, said the abilities his forces bring to the fight are a vital part of the DIME equation - diplomatic, informational, military and economic. "Warfighting is the priority; that's why we are here," Batchelder said. "We provide the hard power in the collective DIME, and look forward to contributing however we can.

France to deploy aircraft carrier to help operations against Islamic State. France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will be deployed to support operations against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, France's presidency said in a statement on Thursday. "The deployment of the battle group alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has been decided to participate in operations against Daesch and its affiliate groups," the statement said after a defence cabinet meeting, referring to the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. The statement added that Paris supported efforts to reach a political transition in Syria, but that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in no way could be part of the country's future.

France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has started military operations against Islamic State in Iraq, a French army source said on Monday. "The carrier and its naval group has officially started missions as part of its Chammal operation in Iraq," the source told Reuters in a reference to the name of the mission. A second source said the carrier would be engaged for several weeks. Le Figaro newspaper, which is accompanying Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian ahead of an official announcement he is set to make on the carrier on Monday, said the first reconnaissance and possible air strikes in Iraq took place in the morning. France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State insurgents…

The troubled French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which lost part of a propeller during its first long cruise last year, will be back in service in April, France's Defense Minister said. The 40,000-ton nuclear-powered warship, built as the flagship of the French navy, limped home after the mid-Atlantic mishap last November amid sarcastic comments from the press and muted anger among naval officers. Paris had counted on the ship to help project French military power as the only European carrier equivalent to those of the U.S. Navy's mammoth vessels. The government said it would be temporarily fitted with spare propellers until new ones are delivered in 2002.

France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle docked for the first time at its permanent base, the Mediterranean port of Toulon, on Wednesday. Three navy frigates and hundreds of yachts escorted the 42,000-ton vessel into port as it joined the rest of the French fleet. The Charles de Gaulle, which has 200 women among its 2,000 crew, is to leave in three weeks on its first long cruise. Carrying up to 40 planes, it replaces France's last surviving aircraft carrier, the 41-year-old Foch, which has been sold to Brazil. The Charles de Gaulle had left this past Saturday the port of Brest - where it was built over 13 years. France is expected to decide before the end of the year whether to build a sister ship to the Charles de Gaulle.

Bourbon announces that its 10 crew members kidnapped in Cameroon on 31st October on board the Bourbon Sagitta were released on Nov. 11. They are now safe in Yaoundé. After medical check-ups, all of them appear to be in good health. Bourbon wishes to thank everyone who has contributed to the successful outcome of this affair for their support and efforts, and in particular the local Cameroonian authorities, as well as the French Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. The two Cameroonian crew members will be joining up with their families and friends very soon. The other eight crew members, seven French and one Tunisian, will be returning to France rapidly, where they too will be reunited with their families and friends. Nov.

Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) began combined operations with the French navy's Task Force 473 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Dec. 29. HST CSG, comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Mason (DDG 87) is operating with the French navy's Task Force 473 to enhance cooperation and interoperability in the region.

Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) and French Navy Task Force 473 concluded five weeks of combined carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) Feb 2. The two strike groups began conducting integrated operations Dec. 26 in the Gulf of Oman and have operated together in the northern Arabian Sea and the Arabian Gulf to enhance regional maritime security and stability. Ships participating in the combined operations included USS Harry S.

More than 3,000 sailors & Royal Marines are geared up for a three-month deployment to the Mediterranean. 'Cougar 12', which begins later this month, will see four warships, one amphibious support ship, a giant ro-ro ferry/transporter, three commando units and helicopters and personnel from eight Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps squadrons committed to the three-month deployment – in all more than 3,000 sailors, Royal Marines, soldiers and airmen. They will take part in two large…

Imtech has been awarded a design & build contract for the high-tech climate technology aboard the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers being built for the British Royal Navy. The order represents a value of more than about $187m. The ships, which are 918.6 ft long, are the largest naval ships ever to be built in the UK. The two aircraft carriers are about 65,000 tons each, a size between the American Nimitz class and the French Charles de Gaulle class. The high-tech design and build order is a direct order from Babcock Marine, a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.