Charles de Gaulle: Ready for Combat

The Charles de Gaulle is Europe’s only operational aircraft carrier and one of the most complex war machines ever built. For several months, we were granted rare access on board to follow the men and women who keep it combat-ready. At the heart of it all are the naval aviators. Among the most elite pilots in the world, they are selected through one of the most grueling training programs in existence: from the first physical trials to night landings on a moving deck, with a margin of error measured in meters. What does it actually take to land a fighter jet on a floating runway, in the dark, in any weather? What missions are these pilots preparing for in the Middle East? A rare and immersive portrait of the French navy’s flagship.