France is to order a third EMALS catapult to equip the French Navy’s future PA-Ng aircraft carrier, according to the 2026 budget draft.
The funding also includes the Combat Management System (CMS) upgrade and is part of a planned increase in defense spending, which President Emmanuel Macron proposed in July 2025, citing imminent threats such as Russia. The final decision on the number of catapults will be political and made at the highest levels of government.
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The PA-Ng program, intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle from 2038, envisages a ship weighing 78,000 tons, 310 meters long and capable of carrying an air group of 30 combat aircraft, in addition to other aircraft. The project includes full electrification, integrated superstructure, three EMALS runways, three-cable AAG system, two hangars and two deck elevators with a capacity of 40 tons each. Construction is expected to begin in 2032 in Saint-Nazaire, with transfer to Toulon in 2035 for finishing work and the start of sea trials in 2036.
By then, the DGA has already acquired critical equipment worth €600 million, including nuclear reactor components, containment vessels and secondary steam plants. Compatibility tests between EMALS catapults, AAG systems and Rafale aircraft are being carried out in the USA, aiming to increase take-off efficiency, including for UCAVs.
According to French officials, the technical advances and design decisions were planned to allow simultaneous operation of manned and unmanned aircraft, preparing the PA-Ng for the future of naval aviation.
Source: Naval News | Photo: X @EtatMajorFR | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
