Free French aircraft carrier: Paris dismisses all risks after the American decision on catapults

Donald Trump 's desire to reinstate steam catapults on future American aircraft carriers should not jeopardize the French naval program. The Ministry of the Armed Forces assures that no particular technical or industrial risks have been identified concerning the manufacture and maintenance of the electromagnetic catapults intended for the Free France, slated to replace the Charles de Gaulle in 2038.

The US president has requested that future US Navy ships abandon this modern technology, which he considers less reliable than the steam-powered system. This decision could affect the USS Doris Miller, scheduled for delivery in 2034. It had raised concerns in France, as the long-term viability of a military technology depends, in particular, on the number of orders required to maintain expertise, production lines, and maintenance capabilities.

An American supply chain deemed sufficiently robust

Paris believes, however, that existing American requirements will allow this sector to be preserved. The first three Ford-class aircraft carriers are or will be equipped with the EMALS electromagnetic system designed by General Atomics. Since this equipment is already developed and operational, its maintenance will need to be ensured for several decades. The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) is nevertheless continuing its discussions with American authorities to monitor the concrete consequences of the change announced by Donald Trump.

The EMALS (Electromagnetic Launching Systems) use electrical power to launch aircraft from the deck, with more precise acceleration than the old steam catapults. This flexibility should allow Free France to launch both heavy aircraft and drones. The Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces, Alice Rufo, acknowledges the existence of a dependence on the United States, but presents it as "controlled and deliberate." In parallel, a study is to examine the feasibility of a sovereign electromagnetic system, without, at this stage, calling into question the purchase of American equipment.