France's Big Plan for a New Super Ship

France is making a big move. They want to build a new, huge aircraft carrier. This isn't just any ship. It's part of a plan to make France stronger on the seas. The new carrier will replace the old one, the Charles de Gaulle, which will retire by 2038. This new ship is called the PANG. It stands for New Generation Aircraft Carrier. It's going to be really big. Imagine a ship that's 310 meters long and 85 meters wide. That's like three football fields in length! It will carry about 30 fighter jets and have a crew of 2, 000 people. The cost? A lot. Around €10. 25 billion. That's a huge amount of money. But France thinks it's worth it. They want to show they are a strong maritime power. This is especially important now, with all the tension in Europe because of the war in Ukraine.The announcement was made by President Emmanuel Macron. He was in the United Arab Emirates. This is a place where France sells a lot of military equipment. The UAE is also near the Strait of Hormuz. This is a very important waterway for oil and gas shipments. Macron said, \"In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared. I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier. \" He made the decision this week. The new ship is expected to be ready by 2038. France is the only country in the European Union with nuclear weapons. They are also the only ones, besides the US, to have a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Other countries with aircraft carriers include the UK, Italy, Russia, and Turkey. Army Minister Catherine Vautrin called the new ship a \"centerpiece\" of the French military. She said it will help France project power from the seas.