French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that France planned to build a new aircraft carrier.

The vessel is to replace the Charles de Gaulle carrier, which is expected to retire by 2038.

It comes as European countries aim to bolster their militaries against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and with Paris seeking to enhance its projection as a maritime power.

What do we know about France's PANG program?

The program, dubbed the New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG), is predicted to cost around €10.25 billion ($12 billion).

The vessel is to be able to house some 30 fighter jets and 2,000 crew members and is planned to stand at 310 meters (1,007 feet) long and 85 meters wide, making it far larger than the Charles de Gaule carrier.

Macron made the announcement at a French military base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE is a major purchaser of French military hardware and the nearby Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway for global energy deliveries.

"In times of aggression, we must be strong to be feared. I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier," Macron said.

"The decision to launch this vast program was taken this week," he said.

France hails 'centerpiece' of maritime power projection

Army Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a post on X that the vessel would be a "centerpiece" of the French military.

"A future centerpiece of our armed forces, it will ensure power projection from the high seas, with commissioning planned for 2038," she said.

France, the only European Union member state with nuclear weapons, is the only country besides the US to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The other European countries that operate aircraft carriers are the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko