Pa-NG, this acronym sounds like a cannon shot. It is the new generation aircraft carrier destined to replace the Charles de Gaulle in 2038 after 37 years of service. Announced by Florence Parly, former Minister of the Armed Forces, in 2018 at Euronaval, it is presented at the 2022 edition of the show in the form of models. One at the stand of the Grupo Naval shipowner, the other at the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This nuclear-powered building has unprecedented dimensions in Europe. Ella’s tonnage of 75,000 tons (compared to 42,000 for the Charles De Gaulle) will make her the largest ship in Europe and among the largest in the world. The length of it reaches 280 meters compared to 261 of the Charles de Gaulle. A size that allows it to house around thirty combat aircraft (including 25 on deck), Rafales and NGF (the combat aircraft at the heart of the SCAF), as well as a Hawkeye radar aircraft, helicopters and all kinds of drones (aircraft combat). or intelligence). The crew of her will be composed of 2000 sailors, men and women.
The cost of the project is 5,000 million euros. In a report published in 2020, Senators Olivier Cigolotti and Gilbert Roger estimated that number could be exceeded. But, if the construction cost of the nuclear aircraft carrier is higher than that of a diesel aircraft carrier, its operating cost will be “quite less”, replied the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
Cyber frigates and nuclear submarines
This budget will be included in the next military programming law (LPM) that covers the period 2025-2030. According to Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, it will be “really one of the big pieces” of this LPM. Especially since its entry into service will be done with the modernization of the naval aviation group, that army of the national navy of which the Pa-NG is the heart.
It will consist of the new defense and intervention (IDF) frigate, a cyber ship equipped with SeaFire, a digital radar from Thales. It is capable of seeing, hearing and capturing the data exchanged in 360° within a radius of 400 kilometers. In the GAN, the Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine (SNA) will also be required.
The first in the series, the Suffren (pronounced Suffrin), is already in service for the protection of Charles De Gaulle. Virtually undetectable, the submersible is based in Toulon. By 2030, the French Navy will have 6 SNA Suffren classes. They will replace Rubies that will be deconstructed over time. A conventional version had been developed for Australia which denounced this contract last year.
The cyber frigate and the Barracuda were enthroned around the Pa-NG at the Euronaval fair, both in mock-up form.
Source: BFM TV
