Inside the Charles de Gaulle: Europe’s Nuclear-Powered Carrier

France’s flagship aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is sailing to the Mediterranean, highlighting its strategic role as Europe’s most powerful warship.

The vessel is France’s only aircraft carrier and the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the world outside the United States Navy.

Commissioned in 2001, the Charles de Gaulle measures 261 meters in length and features a flight deck roughly the size of two football fields. It can carry up to 30 Rafale fighter jets, alongside E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and helicopters.

Its steam catapult system allows the launch of fully loaded combat aircraft, enhancing its operational flexibility.

Powered by nuclear reactors, the carrier can travel approximately 1,000 kilometers in 24 hours at a top speed of 27 knots. It operates with a crew of around 2,000 personnel, including more than 200 women.

The Charles de Gaulle has previously deployed in operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, serving as a key component of France’s expeditionary military capabilities.

As Europe’s only EU nuclear-armed state projects power at sea, the deployment of its flagship carrier signals a significant strategic posture in the Mediterranean.