When Futura arrived on the large Naval Group stand at the show Euronaval de Villepinte, the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu was observing the model of the future porteporte-French planes. The Pang, for “new generation aircraft carrier” should put to sea in 2035. For three years, France should therefore have two aircraft carriers, since the Charles-de-Gaulle will retire in 2038.
With the model presented and the latest computer graphics images, we don’t really realize that the Pang will be gigantic. It should be almost twice as large as the Charles-de-Gaulle and will be able to carry around thirty new generation combat aircraft, Rafales and drones.
The future aircraft carrier will also be a heavyweight of the seas with its 80,000 tonnes. This is 5,000 tonnes more than what was initially planned! But this should not pose any particular concern for the two K22 nuclear reactors, which will propel it to a vitessevitesse maximum of around thirty knotsknots. These two boiler rooms will generate a power of 220 MW each, for an autonomy of ten years! They also have an additional advantage, since they allow rapid departure in a few minutes, without reheating constraints.
The Pang, as big as an American aircraft carrier
The Pang will measure 310 meters long, almost 50 meters longer than the Charles-de-Gaulle. Overall, it will be closer to the size of the current American aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, and will be even wider. With these American ships and the venerable Charles-de-Gaulle, it should be the only one to be equipped with nuclear propulsion.
If it is larger, wider, it is to accommodate a greater number of Rafale Marines. It should also carry the potential future NGF, the hyperconnected combat aircraft of the future, accompanied by its wingman, the drone nEUROnnEUROnas well as other drones designed for specific missions. In total, around thirty combat aircraft could therefore be managed on the building’s deck. We should also find Hawkeyes for surveillance. On the equipment side, the ship will integrate powerful jammers and armaments energyenergy directed. The latter will be supplied with energy by the nuclear boiler room.
Three induction catapults
But what characterizes the power of an aircraft carrier is its ability to launch the combat aircraft it contains in record time. Catapults are therefore of crucial importance. However, at Euronavalthe new visuals show that the Pang will have three catapults. This is one more than the Charles-de-Gaule with its two R91 steam catapults. The new catapults are very different. Of American origin, they are electromagnetic. Called EMALS for ElectroMagnetic Aircraft Launching Systemwith their linear induction motor, they make it possible to launch aéronefsaéronefs different by adapting the propulsion to the massemasse of the device. On the catapult rail, a carriage is attached to the undercarriage of the aircraft. He is then brutally put into movementmovement speak magnetic fieldmagnetic field you rail.
As the energy consumption is adapted to the mass of the device, the process is more economical than steam catapulting. This is not its only asset. Maintenance is simpler, the impact of mechanical stress on aircraft is less significant. Above all, it allows you to launch an entire air fleet in a few minutes.
The objective of the French Navy is to be able to double aerial sorties to reach 60 sorties per day in the event of high intensity combat. For the moment, let us remember that only the French and the Americans have aircraft carriers equipped with catapults. On its brand new Fujan, China has just tested an equivalent system. The aircraft carrier, however, is not yet operational.
Just like the Scaf or the tank of the future, the Pang will also be ultra-connected. He will embarkIAIA to process data more quickly sensorssensors. If for the moment, we can only see a model and a few photos, the preliminary studies are already very advanced, and the production of the ship should begin in 2025. When the Pang enters service, there should be around 28 doors -planes instead of around twenty today.
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