France Steaming Ahead on PA2/CVF Carrier Project
Related Stories: BAE, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Europe - France, Other Corporation, Project Failures, R&D - Contracted, Surface Ships - Combat, Thales
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Throughout most of the Cold War period, France maintained two aircraft carriers. That changed when the FNS Foch, the last Clemenceau Class carrier, was retired in November 2000 (it will now serve the Brazilian Navy as the Sao Paolo). As Strategis notes, France has lacked the capacity to ensure long-distance air coverage during the FNS Charles de Gaulle’s maintenance cycles or during other periods when the carrier is not available for active duty (approximately 35% of the time). In 2015, the ship will be taken out of service for an extensive maintenance overhaul. Despite a slippage in initial construction dates from 2005 to 2007-2008, the French still hope to take delivery by 2014 so the the new ship can be operational by the time their sole operational aircraft carrier goes off line for repairs.
The project has been awarded to the “MPOA2” (Maitrise d’Oeuvre Porte Avions No 2) consortium composed of DCN and Thales, and is now proceeding in cooperation with the UK. The design was originally though to be for a ship of about 58,000t, but detailed design work has pushed it up into the 74,000t range, fully 72% larger than the FNS Charles de Gaulle. Unlike the problematic nuclear-powered de Gaulle, however, the PA2 will be a conventionally-powered ship with an all-electric power system driven by Rolls Royce gas turbines.
The latest development is a statement that once again casts doubt on the PA2’s future – a future likely to be decided by French President Sarkozy himself…
- PA2: The Design & Acquisition Program
- PA2: Developments and Updates [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
PA2: The Design & Acquisition Program
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The PA2 design phase was officially launched by French Minister for Defence Mme Michele Alliot-Marie on January 24, 2005. The studies undertaken since early 2005 have focused on the opportunities for cooperation between the French PA2 and the British CVF future carrier programs. These studies concluded that the basic 55,000-65,000t CVF design put together by the BAE-Thales Alliance team could meet the French Navy’s requirements with only limited tailoring. Unlike the 43,000t CVN Charles de Gaulle Class, therefore, the new PA2 carrier will feature conventional as opposed to nuclear engines.
The program faces obstacles in France, where a slow economy, aging population, and large array of public spending programs makes funding somewhat uncertain beyond the May 2007 Presidential elections. Aviation week quotes France’s current defense minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who reportedly said at Paris’ Euronaval show in October 2006 that:
”...her “ambition is to render this program as irreversible as possible.” She not only sees the project as vital to “ensure that our overseas deployment capacity remains permanent,” but also as a foundation for constructing “a consolidated European industry and a solid European defense.” “
When complete, the ship will operate 60-70 Rafale M fighters, E-2C/D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, and AS565 Panther or NH90 NFH naval helicopters. Defensive missile systems will likely include the Eurosam Aster 15 PAAMS, as well as Mistral short-range missiles on a Sadral launcher.
The next key project milestone is the ‘Dossier de Lancement et de Realisation,’ which is similar to ‘Main Gate project approval.’ It’s due by the end of March 2007, but could be delayed until May 2007 or later if the government vacilates. If, as currently planned, the British program also reaches Main Gate Approval around March 2007, there is some optimism that an industrial cooperation agreement could be signed and made public in April 2007, during the final Anglo-French ministerial meeting before the French presidential election in April.
Many are hoping that the most turbulent part of the journey lies behind them.
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In June 2006, PA2 ship design recommendations were made made to the French DGA. They included substantial changes: increasing displacement over the CVF design by 9,000t (to 74,000t), maximum flight deck width by 4 m (to 73 m), and draft by 2 m (to 11.5 m). These increases stem from the need to incorporate American-designed 90 meter C13-2 steam catapults and accompanying boilers that are missing from the British design, internal hangar space changes, a significant increase in carried fuel, and nuclear weapons storage. These changes would also reduce speed from 26.3 knots to about 25-26 knots, a disappointment as the Marine Nationale was hoping for an increase to 29 knots.
Aviation Week reports that the extent of the modifications alarmed the British, to the extent that the joint program was called into question. By Sept. 21, 2006, however, it was accepted that the French PA2 would be only 90% compatible, and that both sides were willing to offer maximum cooperation. Though some features like the engine room and controls will be identical on both classes, the pressing need to cooperate has entailed concessions on both sides, and some key design differences:
- The PA2 must be fitted with steam catapults and arresting gear for the Rafale M fighters, plus the necessary piping, maintenance shafts, and boilers. The French are working to get US export clearance for the C13-2 system. Britain’s F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighters will use a ramp for take off and can land vertically. The CVF Queen Elizabeth Class will be retrofittable for catapults, but the British prefer to wait for smaller, lighter EMALS electro-magnetic catapults rather than installing all that bulky, heavy, steam machinery.
- PA2’s elevators from the aircraft hangar up to the flight deck will be slightly wider to accommodate the Rafale-M’s wingspan. There may also be some hangar space changes.
- PA2 will embark 300 more sailors (1,720) than the CVF Queen Elizabeth Class.
- PA2 will have secure storage spaces for nuclear weapons. The Royal Navy delivers nuclear weapons only from its SSBN Vanguard Class Trident missile submarines.
- PA2 will have more space for fuel, because the French navy refuels less often.
- PA2 will use the same French SATRAP list compensation system used on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which use a combination of fins, rudders, and compensation weights on train tracks. SATRAP can maintain stabilization to within 0.5 degrees of horizontal, allowing aircraft launch and recovery up to Sea State 5/6.
On the other hand, the French also made several design concessions to keep the joint program steming along:
- Accomodations will be by rank (British style, officers in back), not by functions (French style)
- The air wing operations room will also be at the back of the ship, away from carrier operations and the admiral’s staff room where the French usually position it.
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On the British side, the British government wants its shipbuilding industry to begin restructuring in accordance with the Defence Industrial Strategy before it awards the future aircraft carrier (CVF) contract. British yards shipyards are visiting French facilities, and looking to benefit from their improvement – and the French have offered to help, for a price. The quid pro quo is that British shipyards adopt French production standards and methods, and that the British agreed to design changes that accommodate French requirements (provision for larger ammunition storage holds, special secure storage areas the French can use for nuclear weapons, etc.)
There is some thought that adoption of identical standards could lead to the building of common sections for the three carriers, but that hasn’t gone past the discussion stage yet.
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“It is clear that the budgetary situation concerning the equipment of our forces makes the construction of a second aircraft carrier difficult…. It’s a decision that we will have to take in the coming weeks…. The president of the republic will decide.”
Nov 19/07: DCNS announces that French (DCNS and Aker Yards) and British (BAE Systems, VT Shipbuilding, Thales Naval and Babcock Support Services) have signed an agreement that lays down the general provisions for co-operation for the development, manufacture and in-service support of the PA2 and CVF carriers. One aspect of the agreement is that the teams will study the feasibility of making all equipment requests joint acquisitions, in order to maintain commonality and drive down costs. See also Aviation Week’s Ares, who correctly notes that PA2 hasn’t been approved for procurement yet.
May 7/07: The French defense ministry signs a 50-million Euro ($67.5-million) contract for two American-made C13-2 steam catapults, the same type of catapult in use by the U.S. Navy on its Nimitz Class carriers. Source.
Jan 16/07: Mer et Marine updates the status of the PA2/CVF program, and excerpts are translated by Defense-Aerospace. The article quotes a MOPA2 official as saying that “there is a strong will on both sides to reach the next milestone” – the French ‘Dossier de Lancement et de Realisation,’ which is similar to ‘Main Gate project approval’, by end of March 2007, following a fully detailed design and binding offer to the French defence procurement agency DGA on December 20, 2006. If, as currently planned, the British program also reaches Main Gate Approval around March 2007, there is some optimism that an industrial cooperation agreement could be signed and made public in April 2007, during the final Anglo-French ministerial meeting before the French presidential election in April.
October 25/06: Le Monde reports a very firm position being taken by Minister for Defense Michele Alliot-Marie, who played up the difficulty of canceling an international program and stood firm on the EUR 700 million invested under the 2007 Finance Law. Despite the increasing drift of the French design away from the UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class CVF, French officials claimed over 90% commonality and portrayed the international project as all or nothing.
A notification of the contract is expected in March or April 2007, though a May 2007 deadline could be pressed if the French government vacillates. See also Oct 21/06 interview.
September 2006: The French 2007 Defense Budget within the 2007 Finance Law proposes another EUR 700 million for the PA2 program, taking total funding so far to EUR 1.63 billion. The 2007 Finance Law is scheduled to be passed in December 2006. Navy Matters adds that:
“France has delayed a decision from December 2006 to March/April 2007 on whether to place contracts for further detailed CVF-FR design work and the procurement of long lead items – which would trigger a further EUR 50 million payment to the UK. The long lead equipment would reportedly include American designed and manufactured steam catapults and arresting gear.”
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Aug 29/06: A report in La Tribune newspaper claims that recommendations re: a CVF-based design were made to the DGA on schedule in July 2006. The DGA later confirms this, and so does a Thales briefing from Euronaval 2006. The proposed changes would reportedly increase displacement by 9,000t (to 74,000t) increase maximum flight deck width by 4 m (to 73 m) increase draft by 2 m (to 11.5 m). These increases stem from the need to incorporate the changes discussed above.
June 22/06: An internal review of CVF-FR design is passed. See Mer et Marine article [French]. MOPA2 was also due to present the General Delegation for Armament (DGA) at the end of July with the results of its study re: modifying the British CVF design, as well as a first detailed financial estimate.
Jan 24/06: As noted in “UK & France Reach Agreement on CVF Carrier Development” the cooperation agreement was hammered out on January 24, 2006; the contract was worth GBP 100 million ($178.6 million/ EUR 145.5 million at current conversion), which marked the first steps in the design of a “tailored CVF.” By March 6, 2006, all details had been wrapped up and the cooperation agreement was formally signed at the EU defense ministers meeting in Innsbruck, Austria. The French got access to the detailed design specifications required in order to finalize their variant, and in return the financial and technical cooperation details were set.
The milestone marking the end of the design phase and the start of the production phase was scheduled for late 2006, but developments have changed that date to April or even May 2007. Navy Matters has further details regarding the sequence of events.
Dec 12/05: The French DGA defense procurement agency formally awarded the “MOPA2 consortium” of DCN and Thales a EUR 20 million (about $23.6 million) ‘relay contract’ to continue their work on the design of France’s planned PA2 aircraft carrier. This enabled the PA2 team to proceed with a detailed preliminary design. These studies will be undertaken by MOPA2, the integrated DCN/Thales prime contract office.
(Originally published December 12, 2005; updated as newer information becomes available)
- DID FOCUS Article – Design & Preparations Continue for Britain’s New CVF Future Carrier (updated). DID covers the CVF.
- Navy Matters – Deuxieme porte-avions francais / French Second Aircraft Carrier (PA2)/ CVF (FR). Excellent resource. Program updates can be found on page 2.
- Naval Technology – Charles De Gaulle Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier, France
- Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International (Jun 13/07) – Britain and France Develop New Carriers. Among other things, has very interesting data on cruise ship vs. aircraft carrier waste management and load/costs. PA2/CVF carriers are incorporating some of those lessons.
- Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International (February 7/07) – Joint U.K.-France Aircraft Carrier Steams Ahead. Adds useful details re: key differences between the British CVF and French PA2.
- Mer et Marine (Jan 16/07) – Aircraft Carriers: What’s the Status of the Anglo-French Project? (Excerpt). Translated by Defense-Aerospace.
- Mer et Marine (Oct 21/06) – Interview: Michele Alliot-Marie, French minister of Defense. English version.
- RUSI Defence Systems (Summer 2006) – Franco-British Co-operation: A Booster to the PA2 Design Definition Challenge in 2006 [PDF format]. By Louis Cazaubon, project director of the PA2 program for MOPA2. Provides some additional details re: Anglo-French co-operation in the design and development of the future aircraft carriers, and discusses the 80% commonality goal.
- Mer et Marine (Aug 8/06) – DCN et Thales proposent un porte-avions plus lourd [Francais].
- Mer et Marine (June 28/06) – Porte-avions : MOPA2 passe avec succes la revue de conception interne [Francais].
- DID (Jan 26/06) – UK & France Reach Agreement on CVF Carrier Development. Updated in March 2006.
- Thales (Dec 12/05) – French PA2 carrier programme advanced to next design phase
- Industry Canada Strategis (Feb 25/04) – France Chooses Conventional Propulsion for its New Aircraft Carrier
- StrategyPage (Dec 7/03) – How NOT to Build an Aircraft Carrier. The Charles de Gaulle Class has had more than its share of problems, which may help to explain why building a second ship of that class wasn’t a very appealing option.
