3. Charles de Gaulle (R91)
The flagship carrier of France in naval aviation stands for European technical mastery and strategic autonomy. The Charles de Gaulle, the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside of the United States Navy, combines special design elements that maximise its capacity for European missions. Based on K15 pressurised water reactors, the carrier's nuclear propulsion technology offers extraordinary operational freedom and endurance. Equipped with two modern steam catapults and three arrestor cables, its flight deck allows operations of conventional and nuclear-capable aircraft. The innovative command and control systems of the ship combine many radar arrays, notably the DRBJ 11B 3D air search radar and the SMART-S air/surface search radar, therefore offering complete combat awareness. Usually include E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, Rafale M multi-role fighters, and several helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and utility roles, the carrier's air group is Effective operation of the ship with a crew of 1,950, much less than similar American carriers depends on advanced automation technologies and efficient use of space. The ARBR 21 radar warning receiver and the ARBR 33 jamming system, which guarantees survivability in contested conditions, comprise the vessel's advanced electronic warfare package. Recent enhancements have boosted the ship's capacity to operate as part of multinational task groups and its network-centric warfare capability.
