France select nuke propulsion option [F-35B] future aircraft

[spazsinbad]

Graphic of C-13 catapult variant details not available now: https://www.tpub.com/content/aviation/1 ... 10_135.htm

Funnily enough the original C-13 steam catapult had a power stroke of 76 metres approx. that seems to gibe with the CdeG catapult data but of course is it the power stroke or track length that is quoted. Who knows - always a puzzle.

Over the page I added the C-13[-3] for some reason but it is not the original reference so I suggest CdeG has the original C-13 steam catapult as per the diagram length, making it the SHORT original version of the C-13 catapult variants.

[spazsinbad]

HANG ON to my HAT this is where I read the 75-75 metres for CdeG steam catapult - but is it correct?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_catapult

[spazsinbad]

Some less relevant except speed details for PANG: France Details Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program 31 Dec 2020
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... er-program

"...top speed of around 27 knots..."

[Corsair1963]

Euronaval 2022: Latest PANG Aircraft Carrier Design Breaks Cover

An updated design of the PANG (porte-avions de nouvelle génération) new generation aircraft carrier was unveiled today on Day one of Euronaval 2022...

Xavier Vavasseur  18 Oct 2022

The most striking evolution in the design is on the island of the carrier. Its general shape has evolved quite significantly compared to the initial design unveiled in 2020: While it used to be shaped like a “water drop”, it is now more more “square”. The bridge design has change, as well as the mast. While the new model on display at Euronaval still features the SeaFire radar (in four fixed pannels configuration), the “cone” at the top of the island is gone to make way for an array of domes for satellite communication.

Behind the island, there is now a helicopter spot as well as an area to conduct aircraft maintenance on the flightdeck.


While less noticeable, the shape of the flightdeck has evolved too. Naval News was told the modifications were made so that the design would better accommodate a third EMALS, should it be needed.


For self protection, the new PANG scale model now features a numbers of SIMBAD-RC, RapidFire CIWS, VLS for Aster missiles and the new CMLS anti-torpedo decoy launchers.

French President Emmanuel Macron officially green lighted the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as part of the PA-Ng program one year ago (8 December 2020). The future flagship of the Marine Nationale is intended to replace the existing Charles de Gaulle around 2038.


During the Euronaval 2022 press trip last month, the PANG program manager at DGA (Directorate General of Armaments) shared some up-to-date details on the program.

The latest technical specification of France’s future aircraft carrier are as follow (preliminary design data):
•Full load displacement: ~ 75,000 t
•Overall length: 310 m
•Length at waterline: 305 m
•Width at water line: 39 m
•Flight deck surface area: ~ 17,000 m²
•Max draught: 10.8 m
•Two or three 90-meter electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) by General Atomics
•Airwing: ~30 New Generation Fighter (NGF) and Rafale M
•Maximum speed: 30 knots (more than Charles de Gaulle)


Regarding the configuration of the weapon systems (VLS for Aster 15 or 30?) and sensor systems (SeaFire radar with fixed panels or rotating?), DGA is still considering a range of options, and nothing is yet “set in stone”. The design requirements, however, call for sufficient power margins in order to accommodate directed energy weapons.


PANG program workshare

Here is how work on the PANG is shared between the different entities taking part in the program:
•Both the DGA and CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) act as contracting authority.
•MO Porte-Avions (joint company by Naval Group [65%] and Chantiers de l’Atlantique [35%]) and TechnicAtome are in charge of the overall program management.
•TechnicAtome is the prime contractor for the nuclear reactors.
•MO Porte-Avions is the prime contractor for the whole vessel (excluding the nuclear reactors).
•TechnicAtome is in charge of the new nuclear reactor architecture, installation and equipment.
•Naval Group is in charge of:1.The assembly of the nuclear reactors and auxiliary capacities,
2.The production of main reactors capacities,
3.The whole warship architecture
4.The aviation facilities and combat systems
5.The power conversion systems

•Chantiers de l’Atlantique is in charge of the platform production and the ship assembly.


PANG program schedule

Technical and operational studies started in 2018 and ended in 2019. In parallel, the conceptual design started at the end of 2018 and ended in December 2019.

The PANG program is currently in the “risk mitigation & innovation studies”. They started in January 2021 and are set to end in December 2023. At the same time, “preliminary design studies” started in Q1 2021 and are set to end in Q1 2023.

The “definition phase” will start from Q2 2023 and last until December 2025 with the “system functional review” milestone.

The decision to launch the development and production phase is due for end of 2025 / early 2026, after which the “development and production” phase will span 10 years (2026 until 2036). Several milestones are set to be achieved in this timeframe:
•Preliminary design review in Q4 2028
•Critical design review in Q4 2029
•First sea trials: End of 2035 / early 2036
•Delivery: End of 2036 / early 2037
•Commissioning: End of 2037 / early 2038

The production & construction phase will start in early 2031 in St Nazaire. The PANG will then transfer to Toulon in mid-2035 to finish outfitting work until the end of 2036.

Regarding the transfer from St Nazaire to Toulon: Since Chantiers de l’Atlantique is not a nuclear shipyard, fueling of the nuclear core and divergence (first power up of the reactor) will take place in Toulon. According to the DGA program manager, the plan is to temporarily fit several diesel generators in the hangar (or on the flight deck) of the aircraft carrier in order to provide the electric propulsion system of the carrier with enough power. In other words, this initial transit (which will not be a sea trial) will be conducted with the vessel’s own power, just not nuclear power.


A second PANG remain a possibility

Asked by Naval News about the deadline after which placing an order for a second aircraft carrier would not be possible, the DGA program manager explained:


“There is not really a deadline, because it depends on the French Armed Forces needs. Today there is no deadline and a second PANG remains a possibility.”

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/eu ... aks-cover/

[spazsinbad]

PA-Ng Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOawrerK68E

[spazsinbad]

France reveals first look at new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
19 Oct 2022 CHRISTINA MACKENZIE

"Known for the time being as the PANG (for Porte Avion Nouvelle Génération), the 75,000 tonne (82,673 tons) ship will be 310m (1,017 ft) long and 85m (279 feet) at the widest point of the carrier deck....

...two nuclear reactors, provided by TechnicAtome, will provide electricity for three shaft drives (for a size comparison, the larger US aircraft carriers have four shaft drives). The CEA (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives) atomic energy commission will oversee the execution and coordination of the reactors, which will only need to be refueled once every 10 years — meaning, at least in theory, the ship could stay at sea for that entire time.

PANG will carry about 32 new generation fighters, up to three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes (France ordered three in the last days of 2021, for delivery in 2028), and a number of unmanned aircraft. Col. Philippe (last name withheld as per French Armed Forces rules), the PANG program director for the DGA procurement agency, told Breaking Defense that some of the design decisions had been made to ensure that French and US aircraft carriers remain interoperable....

...PANG will outclass the older carrier [CdeG] by 159 feet in length and 68 feet in width....

...The design revealed today may get tweaked between now and 2025 when the design will be fixed, Saint Julien explained. “The first sea trials are expected to take place in 2036, the ship delivered to the Navy in 2037 and operational in 2038 at which point the Charles de Gaulle can retire,” he said.

The vessel that will be delivered to the Navy will not necessarily have everything on-board that the Navy would like — at least, not right away. “It’s going to be designed in such a way that it can be modernised incrementally and the combat system can evolve,” Saint Julien said. “We don’t know today what kind of technology will be available in 15 years time so we need to allow for new technology to be able to be easily fitted.”..."

Photo: "A model of the new generation French nuclear-powered carrier. (Christina Mackenzie/Breaking Defense)" https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads ... _6865.jpeg

Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/fra ... t-carrier/

[steve2267]

Le Ford Lite

[noth]

I guess the F-35B landing pad has moved and become the helicopter+F-35B pad behind the tower in this iteration of the design?

[steve2267]

I guess the F-35B landing pad has moved and become the helicopter+F-35B pad behind the tower in this iteration of the design?

I was unaware the PA-NG was to support the Bee?

Quicksilver has commented about the real effects superstructure can have when operating a VSTOL aircraft (i.e. Harrier) aboard a boat. Having a Bee landing pad directly astern the carrier superstructure might be sporty. (Or at a minimum, require an awful lot of analysis.)

[spazsinbad]

As a matter of operational necessity the carrier controls the wind over the deck WOD. When appropriate it could steam in such a way to minimise the imagined problem in the imagined landing area. Perhaps the F-35B landing area is not where some have guessed. I don't claim to know. A reference for the F-35B landing on ANY PANG would relieve my anxiety PANGs.

Here is a COULD reference from 30 Oct 2020 - TWO YEARS AGO NOW with seemingly no reference since - however I don't trust this blogger given that he claims: "...infrequent opportunities for high-end engagement, as during the Clemenceau deployment in 2019 and Foch in 2020..." WAIT WUT?!? https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-fre ... ding-spot/

Anyway how 'bout an SRVL? PANG is a LONG BOAT for same.

[ricnunes]

That French future carrier (concept) looks very similar to the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.

[Corsair1963]

Looks like the island of the PANG has been positioned further aft than the original concept. While, not as far back at the Ford Class. It looks to be fairly close nonetheless........