France is advancing its next-generation aircraft carrier program with plans to acquire a third Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PA-Ng). The system, developed by General Atomics, will replace traditional steam-powered catapults and provide smoother aircraft launches with reduced airframe stress. According to the 2026 defense budget proposal, the funding will also cover a data-centric upgrade to the ship’s Combat Management System, enhancing the carrier’s ability to process and share real-time operational data.
The move underscores France’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge American launch and recovery technology, similar to that deployed aboard the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. Once completed, the PA-Ng will become the first French carrier to feature a fully electromagnetic launch and recovery suite—signaling a historic leap in naval aviation capability and efficiency over the legacy steam catapult system used on the Charles de Gaulle.
The PA-Ng will include three EMALS tracks and a three-wire arrestor system, ensuring flexible operations for both manned fighters and unmanned aerial vehicles. French and U.S. engineers have already conducted compatibility tests with the Dassault Rafale M and advanced UAVs at the U.S. Navy’s Lakehurst test site in New Jersey. Meanwhile, Naval Group has begun work on the carrier’s nuclear reactor modules and dock infrastructure, setting the stage for full-scale construction by 2026.
