Toulon Naval Base Modernizes Docks For Carrier

The Toulon naval base is preparing to receive France’s future aircraft carrier in early 2035, launching a modernization of its docks, access routes, and seabeds. The incoming warship will replace the existing flagship, the Charles de Gaulle, which is scheduled for retirement in 2038.

Measuring approximately 300 meters in long and displacing about 75,000 tonnes, the future vessel far exceeds the size of current infrastructure in the roadstead. Chantiers de l’Atlantique will assemble the hull in Saint-Nazaire before towing it to Toulon in early 2035 for three years of fitting out and preparation.

Building a Fourth Access Route at La Seyne-sur-Mer

To handle the massive logistics required by the project, planners are constructing a fourth access point to the base on the La Seyne-sur-Mer side. La Seyne will serve as the primary logistical hub for the construction work, receiving teams and equipment delivered by sea through the Brégaillon commercial port.

A new bridge will connect the commercial port of Brégaillon directly to the Milhaud side of the naval base, with an opening targeted for 2029. Modeled after the existing Castigneau gate, this new entry point will remain operational after construction concludes and will feature a holding parking lot, a security screening post, and an administrative support base.

Initial construction work is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Project managers plan to route heavy supplies via maritime transport whenever possible to spare local roads in La Seyne from heavy truck traffic.

Clearing 2,150 Obstructions from the Toulon Roadstead

Beneath the surface, engineers face an extensive cleanup operation before the nuclear-powered carrier can safely navigate the harbor. Technical documents catalog 2,150 mapped obstructions on the seabed, ranging from sunken wrecks that need refloating to miscellaneous debris that must be hauled away.

Counter-amiral Arnaud Tranchant noted that the harbor floor has rarely been as clean, stating that past generations left behind significant amounts of debris. To protect local aquaculture during these underwater operations, authorities established a monitoring protocol on December 31, 2024, to track water quality, shellfish health, and sediment levels near the Lazaret Bay farms.

Alarm buoys track water turbidity—the cloudiness caused by suspended particles—giving operators the ability to pause dredging and clearance work immediately if safety thresholds are crossed.

Propulsion and Deck Operations for the 2035 Fleet Flagship

The sheer scale of the vessel dictates the massive engineering overhaul underway across the naval installations. Powered by two nuclear boilers, the carrier will reach speeds of 27 knots, roughly 50 kilometers per hour, without ever needing to refuel.

Flight deck operations will rely on electromagnetic catapults, which offer a smoother launch profile than traditional steam systems. These catapults will launch a mixed air wing of approximately 30 next-generation fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, drones, and helicopters manned by an onboard crew of nearly 2,000 sailors.

Timeline to the 2038 Operational Handover

The Brégaillon bridge is slated to open in 2029 to support the incoming infrastructure and handle traffic for roughly 1,000 industrial workers expected on site. The hull will arrive from Saint-Nazaire in early 2035 to begin a heavy equipment phase lasting until 2038.

The program culminates in 2038, when the new carrier takes over operational duties precisely as the Charles de Gaulle finishes its service life and is decommissioned.