Xavier Vavasseur

About Xavier Vavasseur

Xavier Vavasseur is the editor of Naval News based in Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Xavier has been covering naval defense topics for nearly a decade.


Recent Posts By the Author


President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program

President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program

An artist’s impression of PANG (Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation, or next-generation aircraft carrier).

French President Emmanuel Macron today officially green-lighted the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as part of the PANG program. The future flagship of the French Navy is intended to replace the existing FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) aircraft carrier around 2038. Read More

South Korea Seeking More F-35Bs for Future LPX-II Carrier

South Korea Seeking More F-35Bs for Future LPX-II Carrier

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the ‘Dragons’ of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) lands on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Jan. 15, 2020. US Navy Photo

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) has decided in August to double its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. A total of forty additional “Joint Strike Fighters” will be procured, including 20 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant for its light aircraft carrier project known as LPX-II. Read More

South Korea Plans to Build F-35B Lightning Aircraft Carrier

South Korea Plans to Build F-35B Lightning Aircraft Carrier

Concept image of the LPX-II Lighting Carrier from South Korea. Republic of Korea Navy Image

South Korea’s 2021-2025 defense blueprint, which was revealed yesterday, provides fresh details on the plans to develop an aircraft carrier capability for the Republic of Korea (RoK) Navy. The LPX-II project will be a dedicated light aircraft carrier for F-35B; it will not be an amphibious assault ship. Read More

French Carrier Heading Home Early Amid Suspicion of COVID-19 Outbreak

French Carrier Heading Home Early Amid Suspicion of COVID-19 Outbreak

FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) deploying on Jan. 21, 2020 from Touloun, France. French Navy Photo

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) aircraft carrier and flagship Charles de Gaulle (R91) is heading home early following suspicion of several COVID-19 cases among its crew members. About forty sailors may be infected with COVID-19, according to a French Ministry of the Armed Forces press release issued on Wednesday. Read More

France to Deploy Mistral Amphib to Serve as Hospital Ship

France to Deploy Mistral Amphib to Serve as Hospital Ship

An American MV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 lands on French amphibious ship FS Tonnerre on June 28, 2019, during the Semper Thunder exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C. USNI News photo.

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is about to deploy its Mistral-class LHD Tonnerre(L9014) to the Island of Corsica in a mission to evacuate several Coronavirus / COVID19 patients towards mainland France. Read More