Since 2001, the Charles de Gaulle has served as the crown jewel of French military might. It is the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the US fleet and has just been deployed in the eastern Mediterranean following the outbreak of the Iran war.
France deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the eastern Mediterranean, redirecting the vessel from North Atlantic operations as the Iran war escalates, threatening to spill over outside of the Middle East.
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French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment during a televised address Tuesday evening. "I have ordered the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, its air assets, and its escort of frigates to set course for the Mediterranean," he said.
The carrier group was pulled from Mission Lafayette 26 in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, where it had participated in NATO exercises. The vessel made a stopover in the Swedish port of Malmö last week before receiving new orders.
The Charles de Gaulle is expected to take approximately 10 days to reach the eastern Mediterranean.
Armament and strike capability
The vessel carries 20 Rafale fighter jets and two E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft that will contribute to securing regional airspace, according to France 24.
The 42,500-tonne carrier measures 261 metres in length and is powered by two K15 nuclear reactors, the same type that powers France's Le Triomphant-class submarines.
This propulsion system provides virtually unlimited operational range, allowing the vessel to operate for extended periods without refuelling.
The ship can accommodate approximately 40 aircraft, though it typically operates with between 20 and 30 depending on the mission. The current deployment includes the 20 Rafale M fighters and two Hawkeye aircraft.
The embarked Rafale M aircraft can carry SCALP air-to-ground missiles with ranges exceeding 500 kilometres, AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and laser- or GPS-guided bombs. In air superiority configuration, the aircraft carry Meteor air-to-air missiles.
The carrier itself is equipped with Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles for point defence, 20mm Giat guns and electronic warfare systems. The vessel projects air power rather than engaging in direct surface combat.
History of operations in war theatres
The Charles de Gaulle's operational history includes missions during Operation Enduring Freedom, Libya operations in 2011, the campaign against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq between 2015 and 2019, and deployments in the Indian Ocean during Operation Agapanthus.
The carrier encountered difficulties during its early service years, including propulsion failures and radiological contamination incidents among crew members that required major overhauls.
In 2020, the vessel was temporarily disabled amid the spread of COVID-19 among its 1,760 crew during a Mediterranean mission.
France operates only one aircraft carrier. When the vessel enters dry dock for extended maintenance periods every few years, France temporarily loses the naval projection capability that distinguishes it from other European navies.
The deployment follows Iran's statement that its forces effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway.
Macron also announced Tuesday that France was sending additional air defence units to Cyprus following Iranian drone strikes on the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri. The frigate Languedoc and additional air defence assets arrived off Cyprus on Tuesday, according to reports.