Page 22 - ADT JULY - AUGUST 2022 Online Magazine

and 62 m at the widest part and height of 59 m including France Moves Ahead on New Carrier [ REPORT ]
the superstructure. It has 14 decks in all, including five In December 2020, France announced the launch of
in the superstructure. It has over 2,300 compartments, studies for the replacement of the Charles de Gaulle air-
designed for a crew of around 1700 people. craft carrier by a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier by
2038. Naval Group will be involved in this historic proj-
ect along with its major industrial partners Chantiers
The Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND) is de l'Atlantique, TechnicAtome and Dassault Aviation.
the designer of the aircraft carrier, which is being built Naval Group has undertaken the design, construction,
at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and it was launched in and maintenance of all three French aircraft carriers: the
August 2013. Unfortunately, as is typical in many Indian Clémenceau, the Foch and the Charles de Gaulle.
defence procurement programmes, the Indian effort to The last of these, the Charles de Gaulle was the first
deliver an indigenously developed aircraft carrier for the French aircraft carrier equipped with nuclear propulsion
navy has taken a long time. Project approval for con- and is fitted with two nuclear boilers. The 70,000 tonne
struction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier was first Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation (PANG) will replace the
accorded by the Government in in May 1999, with revi- Charles de Gaulle in service by 2038. Construction is
sions in October 2002 and July 2014. The requirement slated to start in 2025 and sea trials are to begin by
for a ship of 37,500 tons was identified in 1990, however, 2036. In addition to Rafale M (Marine) fighter aircraft, it
Preliminary Staff Requirements were concluded only in will also embark E-2D airborne early warning and control
August 2004, after 14 years. (AEW&C) aircraft and helicopters.

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