France’s 80,000-Ton Nuclear Libre Aircraft Carrier Has a Message for the U.S. Navy

France’s 80,000-Ton Nuclear Libre Aircraft Carrier Has a Message for the U.S. Navy

France is building an 80,000-ton nuclear supercarrier, the FS France Libre — twice the displacement of the Charles de Gaulle and the largest warship ever built in Europe. Announced by President Macron, it will carry up to 30 Rafale-M fighters launched by three American-made EMALS catapults, the same system on the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class. Due in 2038 at a cost of €10.25 billion, the carrier is built for global power projection — and to operate alo…