France's Next Generation PANG Aircraft Carrier is Officially Named "France Libre"

On March 18, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the official name of France’s next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) during a ceremony at a Naval Group site near Nantes. The vessel, until now designated under the program title Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération (PANG), will henceforth bear the name France Libre (Free France).

French President Emmanuel Marcon at the PANG's Naming Ceremony on March 18, 2026

After the fall of France in June 1940, Free France (France Libre) became the government-in-exile and the resistance movement that refused to accept the armistice with Nazi Germany. Led by Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle, it transformed from a small group of “rebels” in London into the legitimate provisional government that led France to liberation.

French General Charles de Galle with Members of the Free French Forces

During his address at the naming ceremony, President Macron explained his choice for the name:

“I wished to place our future aircraft carrier in the lineage of General de Gaulle. His life, his destiny, and the choices made as early as June 1940 following the collapse—these speak to a certain idea of France. For him, and for us. The French spirit. It is a spirit of resistance. It is a will that nothing can stop.

A will to resist in order to remain free. An irreducible, invincible will on national territory or elsewhere in the face of occupation. A will which, like our aircraft carrier, can take to the seas if necessary until victory is achieved. The will to remain free—yes, that is it. The great project that is ours. The one that binds us.

The project of our armed forces, but also of our research, of our national industries. This will to remain free is the will for independence at all costs; for total, unconstrained autonomy of action; for the projection of our forces wherever the defense of France’s interests demands it, anywhere in the world.

That is why our new aircraft carrier will bear the name ‘France Libre’. Within this name lives the memory of the women and men who stood up against barbarism. United to save the fatherland. Determined to defend a certain idea of our nation. To the Companions of the Liberation, this name seals a vow for the future: To remain free, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful. And to be powerful, we must be ready for effort. In these efforts, let us be irreducible. United. And relentless. Power. Independence. Resistance. Yes. It is by serving the fatherland that we shall achieve victory.”

Artist's Impression of the France Libre courtesy of Naval Group

The France Libre is France's next generation, nuclear powered aircraft carrier that will replace the aging Charles de Gaulle. Construction of the France Libre is set to begin with hull assembly at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in 2032, before the vessel transfers to the naval base at Toulon for final outfitting and nuclear fueling in mid-2035. Sea trials are scheduled for 2036, with commissioning into the Marine Nationale targeted for 2038, at which point the Charles de Gaulle is expected to begin its withdrawal from frontline service. The France Libre is expected to remain in service for about 45 years.

France's Current Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle

The France Libre is designed to embark an air wing of approximately 30 combat aircraft, initially centred on the Dassault Rafale M in its F5 configuration, complemented by three Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft and up to six NH90 Caïman helicopters. Looking further ahead, the carrier’s air group is projected to integrate unmanned combat air vehicles and, by the mid-2040s, the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) being developed under the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.

Artist's Impression of the France Libre courtesy of Naval Group

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