Minister of the Armed Forces: Launch of the Preliminary Design Phase for the future aircraft carrier

The Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, visited Lorient on Monday, March 29, to inaugurate the technical facility where the preliminary design (APS) studies for the future French nuclear aircraft carrier will take place; the contract for this project has been awarded to Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Naval Group, and TechnicAtome (for managing the interfaces between the ship and the nuclear power plant). The nuclear power plant itself is the subject of a specific preliminary design contract between the CEA and TechnicAtome.

The preliminary design studies will determine the architecture required to ensure performance levels that meet the Navy’s specified requirements. This phase will take place over a two-year period and will involve a total of more than 300 people, including manufacturers and subcontractors.

Loïc Rocard, CEO of TechnicAtome, and Bernard Gauducheau, Director of Defense Reactors, were present in Lorient alongside the Minister, who also wished to mark with her presence the creation of the joint venture between Naval Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the construction of the ship’s conventional section. During her remarks, the Minister expressed her “pride in having inaugurated this joint project bringing together Naval Group, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and TechnicAtome.”