FS CHARLES de GAULLE R91
(FS is the NATO designation for French warships).
Namesake: Charles de Gaulle
Operator: Marine Nationale
Ordered: 03/02/1986
Builder: DCNS
Laid down: 14/04/1989
Launched: 07/05/1994
Commissioned: 18/05/2001
Renamed: Ordered as Richelieu on 03/02/1986 , renamed Charles de Gaulle 18/05/1987
Homeport: Toulon, France
Identification: R91
Nickname(s): CDG
Honours and awards:
Jack with the colours of the Free French Forces (front) and the ribbon of the Ordre de la Libération (back)
Status: Entered 18 month refit/overhaul period Feb 2017
General characteristics
Class and type: aircraft carrier
Displacement: 42,500 tonnes (full load)
Length: 261.5 m overall
Beam: 64.36 m overall
Draught: 9.43 m
Propulsion:
2 × Areva K15 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 150 mws each
2 × Alstom steam turbines with a total 61 mws shaft power
4 × diesel-electric
2 × shafts
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)
Range: Unlimited distance, 20–25 years
Endurance: 45 days of food
Capacity: 800 commandos, 500 tonnes of ammunitions
Complement:
Ship's company: 1,350
Air wing: 600
Sensors and processing systems:
1 x DRBJ 11 B tridimensional air search radar
1 x DRBV 26D air search radar
1 x DRBV 15C low altitude air search radar
1 x Arabel target acquisition radar
Electronic warfare and decoys:
1 x ARBR 21 Detector
1 x ARBB 33 Countermeasures suite
1 x ARBG2 MAIGRET Interceptor
4 × Sagaie decoys launcher
SLAT (Système de lutte anti-torpille) torpedo countermeasures
Armament:
4 × 8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying the MBDA Aster 15 surface-to-air missile.
2 × 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral short range missiles
8 × Giat 20F2 20 mms cannons.
Aircraft carried:
28–40 aircraft including
Rafale M / E-2C Hawkeye / SA365 Dauphin / EC725 Caracal / AS532 Cougar

FS CHARLES de GAULLE R91 is the flagship of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). The ship is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the United States Navy. She is named after French statesman and general Charles de Gaulle.