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France to muscle defense capacities with 2nd aircraft carrier
People daily ^ | 02.14.04

Posted on 02/14/2004 7:17:41 AM PST by Dr. Marten

France to muscle defense capacities with 2nd aircraft carrier

France announced Friday that it will build a second aircraft carrier using conventional propulsion to reinforce its nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle by 2015.

"This development is particularly significant in the anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale and will contribute to the strengthening of both Europe's defense capabilities and Franco-British military cooperation," said French President Jacques Chirac when announcing the decision.

Entente Cordiale was a pact that France and Britain signed 100 years ago to form a military alliance in World Wars I and II.

Earlier in the day, Chirac's office said France has chosen to start building the sister ship of Charles de Gaulle in 2005 and have it completed by 2015 in cooperation with Britain.

"The choice brings a response that is perfectly adapted to the operational needs of the coming decades and opens better perspectives of cooperation with the United Kingdom," it said.

The office specified that the decision was made following a proposal from British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has thanked France for the decision.

The second aircraft carrier is included in France's 2008-2013 military program, which envisions spending 88 billion euros (about100 billion US dollars) to build up military strength.

The choice of conventional power model means France could sharecost with Britain, which also plans to build two conventionally-powered aircraft carriers by 2015 with a budget of 4.4 billion euros (5.7 billion dollars).

Terming the decision "a European choice," French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said two aircraft carriers are "necessary to ensure the permanent operation of the (French) nation's Naval Air service. "

The second aircraft carrier is expected to go into service by 2015 when Charles de Gaulle is scheduled for maintenance, said thedefense ministry.

Denis Ranque, chairman of the French defense electronics company Thales, said the company would surely play a "central role" in the French carrier project.

France's naval ship builder DCN, French engineering giant Alstom and Britain's Rolls-Royce are also expected to play a role in the project, said Ranque.

The French carrier would cost less than 2 billion euros, and the final figure would vary according to how much equipment was shared between the French and British carriers, he added.

The French navy operates one nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and a helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc.

The Charles de Gaulle, weighing 38,000 tons and measuring 261.50 meters long, was built at the DCN Brest naval shipyard in Brittany and entered service in May 2001.

With a 12,000-square-meter landing deck, Charles de Gaulle can have a maximum speed of 27 knots due to its two nuclear boiler rooms.

The Jeanne d'Arc, helicopter carrier and naval school for the National Navy, will stay in service till 2010 and there is no planto replace it.





Source: Xinhua




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alliotmarie; armsbuildup; dropsitsprops; france; french; frenchtroops; lebateaumaudit
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1 posted on 02/14/2004 7:17:42 AM PST by Dr. Marten
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To: Dr. Marten
"France to muscle defense capacities with 2nd aircraft carrier"

Bwhahahahahaha
2 posted on 02/14/2004 7:19:21 AM PST by Dr. Marten (Treason...How can such a small word mean so little to so many?)
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To: All
If at first you don't succeed ...
3 posted on 02/14/2004 7:20:38 AM PST by dighton
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To: Dr. Marten

4 posted on 02/14/2004 7:20:46 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo
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To: Dr. Marten
The French navy operates one nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and a helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc

LOL! Operates? Well, not exactly.

5 posted on 02/14/2004 7:22:40 AM PST by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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To: Dr. Marten
Max speed 27 knots?

Perfect for getting to the battle zone after the conflict is over.
6 posted on 02/14/2004 7:22:54 AM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Dr. Marten
I bet it will have a fully stocked wine cellar.
7 posted on 02/14/2004 7:24:23 AM PST by aomagrat (IYAOYAS)
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To: Dr. Marten
Those militaristic pig-dogs!

I certainly hope they have properly funded social programs to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless!

We would all be so much better off if the Navy was forced to hold a bake sale whenever it wanted new toys.

SAVE THE CHILDREN! SAVE THE CHILDREN!

(Well, someone had to say it.)

8 posted on 02/14/2004 7:27:58 AM PST by reformed_democrat
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To: Dr. Marten
Mon Dieu! Perhaps this one will actually be able to leave AND return to port under its own power!

Those crafty French, scaring us with their round-trip capabilities!

9 posted on 02/14/2004 7:29:12 AM PST by txzman (Jer 23:29)
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To: Dr. Marten
When Portugal gets of of line, they'll be ready.
10 posted on 02/14/2004 7:30:02 AM PST by Agnes Heep
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To: Dr. Marten
France will use it on even-numbered days and . . .
11 posted on 02/14/2004 7:30:56 AM PST by geedee (They who give up essential liberty to obtain temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.)
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To: Pukin Dog
Perfect for getting to the battle zone after the conflict is over.

Hey that fits their needs, the champaign will be flowing and the Sporting Houses will be comped for all several days following liberation day.

12 posted on 02/14/2004 7:34:08 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Dr. Marten
I expect they will get sheep to fly first. (Monty Python reference, all rights reserved.)
13 posted on 02/14/2004 7:34:34 AM PST by LibKill (My sigil: Two crossed, dead, Frenchmen emblazoned on a mound of dead Frenchmen.)
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To: Dr. Marten
It comes fitted with a really tall mast so enemy ships can spot the white flag from a safe distance.
14 posted on 02/14/2004 7:36:03 AM PST by dirtboy (John Kerry - talking out both ends of the horse since 1970...)
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To: reformed_democrat
SAVE THE CHILDREN! SAVE THE CHILDREN!

Well they sure can't save the elderly. They just let them die in the heat while they go on "Holiday" to the beaches to cool off.

15 posted on 02/14/2004 7:36:39 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Dr. Marten
>The Jeanne d'Arc, helicopter carrier and naval school for the National Navy, will stay in service

Hey, they named a ship
after Milla Jovovich!
That's a hip Navy...

16 posted on 02/14/2004 7:36:52 AM PST by theFIRMbss
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To: Dr. Marten
Very difficult to accept "muscle" and "France" in the same sentence.
17 posted on 02/14/2004 7:40:46 AM PST by cynicom
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To: Dr. Marten
Monogram builds plastic models on a 1:1 scale?
18 posted on 02/14/2004 7:49:59 AM PST by longtermmemmory (Vote!)
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To: Dr. Marten
Now they can have two carriers in the repair shop at the same time. They'd better start expanding their dry docks.
19 posted on 02/14/2004 8:13:59 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Dr. Marten
Is the first carrier still seaworthy? LOL
20 posted on 02/14/2004 8:29:58 AM PST by FRgal4u
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