Coronavirus Takes France’s Only Aircraft Carrier Out of Service

The French Navy’s sole aircraft carrier the Charles De Gaulle has been recalled from a deployment to the Atlantic fallowing a suspected outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus onboard. Similar outbreaks are thought to have occurred on four American carriers, with the close living quarters allowing the virus to spread quickly. Over 40 sailors on the French carrier are under medical observation, with several placed in isolation onboard the ship. The warship had recently deployed to the Persian Gulf region at a time of growing tensions between the Western Bloc and Iran, as part of a broader French effort to expand its military presence in the region. The Charles De Gaulle is the only European carrier capable of deploying fixed wing aircraft without a specialised vertical landing capability. The ship is quite small displacing just 40,000 tons - a similar size to American Wasp Class and Chinese Type 075 Class assault ships - and has had a troubled history with serious problems with its nuclear reactor and propulsion systems. The French Navy is currently considering a replacement for the carrier, and is likely to look to a platform without nuclear propulsion to reduce costs and avoid similar complications given the demonstrated limits of French nuclear technology. In February 2018 the French Navy placed an order for new airborne early warning aircraft for the Charles De Gaulle, and the service is reportedly planning to equip Rafale M fighters on its deck with new Meteor air to air missiles and enhanced sensors before the end of 2025.