Charles De Gaulle Aircraft Carrier
Launched in 2001, the Charles de Gaulle is the only French aircraft carrier. She was also the largest Western navy vessel up until HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in 2017.
Unique Features and Capabilities
The CDG is the only non-US nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the world. It is worth mentioning the CDG is the only non-US warship that can launch and recover FA-18 Hornets. She can embark up to 40 platforms and has a crew of 1350 men, including 600 personnel attached to its air wing.
The Charles de Gaulle was deployed facing Syria in September 2016 to engage ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The carrier then went back to France for a mid-life overhaul, leaving the French navy without a carrier for 18 months.
Mid-Life Overhaul
At the time of its overhaul in 2019, the CDG was 14 years old. Both nuclear reactors were refueled (it needs to be done every 6 years or so). The hull was cleaned up, and the DRBJ11-B radar was swapped for a Thales Smart-S Mk2. All sensors were replaced with more modern ones, along with the addition of Infra Red sensors and optronic systems. The navigation and communication suites alongside the Fire Control System were also replaced. Finally, both steam catapults were completely renovated.
As for its air wing, the last Super Etendard Modernisés (SEM) were phased out for Rafale Marine.
It took up to 2000 people 18 months to complete the job. The aim was to maintain the Charles de Gaulle’s status as the most powerful naval vessel in Western Europe and keep it in service up until 2041.
Comparing HMS Queen Elizabeth and Charles De Gaulle
Some would say that the British carriers are now the most powerful European navy ships. They are wrong: While HMS Queen Elizabeth is more modern and larger than her French equivalent, she is limited in range compared to CDG (conventional propulsion versus nuclear propulsion). HMS’ QE biggest weakness, however, is the state of the British economy and the mess that is UK MoD procurement: Designed to sail with 24 F-35 embarked (with facilities existing to expand to up to 36), the British ship regularly sails without its airwing and only carried 8 fighter jets onboard during its last two deployments. That’s a shame considering the fact that on paper, HMS QE can generate more sorties per day than CDG (110 versus 100).
While in theory, HMS QE is a more appealing prospect, in reality, the French carrier is a more realistic and useful tool as it usually sails with 29 to 35 platforms onboard including 24 to 30 Rafale.
-RBM
