France deploys aircraft carrier to support Syria raids

France is deploying the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to boost its operations against so-called Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. The presence of the nuclear-powered vessel, the flagship of the French Navy, will add to the twelve Rafale jets based in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan
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Aircraft: Up to 40, including Rafale-M and Super Etendard strike fighters,
E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and AS565 Panther helicopters

Landing: Aircraft recovered by arrestor cables. Flight deck can handle massed landing of 20 aircraft in 12 minutes

Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors provide steam for twin turbines with total shaft power of 61MW

Island: Contains detection,communications and radar equipment

Hangar deck Accommodates up to 25 aircraft

Aircraft lifts Move planes between hangar and flight deck

Takeoff: Carrier equipped with two steam catapults, each capable of launching one aircraft per minute

Runway length 195m

Armament: Four Aster 15 surface-to-air missile launchers, two Mistral short-range missile launchers, eight 20mm cannons, four decoy launchers
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Launched May 1994, commissioned in 2001
Displacement 42,000 tonnes (fully loaded)
Maximum speed 27 knots (50km/h)
Range Unlimited, normal mission 45 days
Crew Ship’s company 1,250, air group personnel 700

Flight deck area: 12,000 sq metres
Length: 262m Width 65m
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Source: Global Security
**Two-thirds the size of U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
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