The EU intends to build its own aircraft carrier in case of war

The European Union has once again raised the issue of building an aircraft carrier. Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, has spoken on this topic.

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During a speech at a defence conference, Thierry Breton said that the European Commission should present a European defence investment programme. This is necessary to ensure efforts to increase the production of ammunition and missiles.

In addition, the European Union should start discussing the creation of an aircraft carrier due to the return of a major threat to the European continent. In the event of war, most military bases could be destroyed by missile attacks. Having an aircraft carrier would allow deck aircraft to be diverted away from being hit.

One problem with the project could be finances. The European Union has only two instruments to finance such programmes. These are the EDIRPA and ASAP funds. Both were created in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but their total size is less than $1bn.

Thierry Breton believes that EDIRPA and ASAP can be linked to the European Defence Fund in the amount of more than $8 billion. Even so, the construction of an aircraft carrier will require large additional investments. When it comes to European companies that could realise such a project on their own, they are only France's Naval Group and the UK's Aircraft Carrier Alliance.

Source: Politico