PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is delivering a keynote speech Monday on France’s nuclear deterrence policy, as his European allies express growing concerns over possible U.S. disengagement and Russian threats.
France is the European Union’s only nuclear power and its deterrence doctrine relies on a strictly defensive strategy intended to safeguard the country’s “vital interests.” Macron has long maintained that those “vital interests” have a “European dimension.”
While France is a member of NATO, it maintains full independence over its nuclear forces while contributing to the alliance’s broader deterrence posture. Under the French Constitution, the president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the sole to decide on the potential use of nuclear weapons.
Here is a look at France’s nuclear capabilities, by the numbers:
France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the only surface warship in Europe capable of carrying nuclear weapons deployed by Rafale fighter jets using catapult-assisted takeoffs.
The navy’s flagship has in recent weeks operated in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, making a stop in recent days in the Swedish port of Malmo.
Because the carrier undergoes lengthy periodic overhauls, France does not have a permanent sea-based air nuclear capability.
Macron confirmed in December that the country will build a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the Charles de Gaulle by 2038.
France has four nuclear-armed submarines: Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant and Le Terrible (The Triumphant, The Fearless, The Vigilant, and The Terrible).
They are based in Ile Longue on the Atlantic coast, one of the nation's most secretive military sites.
Each 138-meter (453-foot) submarine is operated by a crew of about 110 and can carry 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple warheads.
Since 1972, at least one nuclear-armed submarine has been on patrol at all times, ensuring France’s permanent capacity to carry out a strike.
The ASMPA air-launched cruise missile — short for enhanced medium-range air-to-surface missile — has an estimated range of about 500 kilometers (310 miles).
Launched by Rafale fighter jets, it is designed to serve as a final warning before any potential escalation to large-scale nuclear conflict.
The missiles are operated by the Strategic Air Forces, which was created in 1964 and is based at three sites across France. They can also be launched by jets operating from the Charles de Gaulle.
The M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile has an estimated range of 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers (5,000 to 6,200 miles). The exact range has not been made public.
The upgraded M51 entered operational service in October and features improved accuracy and enhanced ability to penetrate missile defenses, according to the French Defense Ministry. Each missile carries multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads.
France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, according to latest figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Over 80% of France's warheads are submarine-launched, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
That makes France the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power after Russia (more than 4,300 warheads), the United States (about 3,700) and China (about 600). The United Kingdom — no longer an EU member but a NATO ally — is estimated to have about 225 warheads, according to SIPRI and FAS.
All five nations are nuclear-weapon states recognized under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
India, Pakistan and North Korea have acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely believed to have them but has never publicly confirmed it.
Exact stockpile numbers are closely guarded state secrets.
Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But it has in recent years been enriching uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%.
UN nuclear watchdog said it was unable to verify whether Iran has suspended all uranium enrichment, in a report seen Friday by The Associated Press before U.S. and Israeli forces launched a major attack on Iran,
FILE - A Rafale M single seater fighter jet is catapulted on France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, Jan. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - French Marine officers wait atop "Le Vigilant" nuclear submarine at L'Ile Longue military base, near Brest, Brittany, July 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, Pool, File)
FILE - France's Rafale B twin-seat multirole fighter performs during the Pegase 2024 mission at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 2, 2026--
PHC Corporation’s Biomedical Division (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Nobuaki Nakamura; hereinafter “PHCbi”), a global provider of laboratory sample storage and cell cultivation solutions and subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), today announced the launch of its new cell expansion system LiCellGrow™ (*1) for research use in Japan and other select countries worldwide (*2). The system is designed to improve quality and efficiency in the production of new advanced therapies by allowing therapy developers to visualize metabolic changes in cells in real time and automatically control culture conditions.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260301429276/en/
PHCbi will exhibit LiCellGrow™ at the 25th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, March 19-20 at the Kobe International Conference Center and Kobe International Exhibition Center in Kobe, Japan.
Cell and gene therapies (CGT), in which cells or genetic material are used to create personalized medical treatments, are rapidly advancing as promising treatment options for hard-to-treat diseases such as genetic disorders and cancer. In the manufacturing of CGT products, however, variations in cell characteristics and complexity of manufacturing are challenges to maintaining a consistent quality product. As a result, therapy developers are faced with reduced production efficiency, lower yields, and increased manufacturing costs compared to conventional therapies. To overcome these challenges, it is essential for therapy developers to be able to identify critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical quality attributes (CQAs) in CGT product manufacturing. The ability to monitor cell status and control culture conditions based on cell status are indispensable to developing quality CGT products at scale efficiently and at a lower cost.
PHCbi developed LiCellGrow™ to address these challenges and support CGT manufacturing at scale by helping to identify optimal culture conditions during the manufacturing process development. The system is equipped with proprietary In-Line monitoring technology that continuously measures, in real time, glucose and lactate concentrations, two key indicators of cell metabolism. It also incorporates culture control technology that adjusts cell culture medium at the optimal time based on these measurements. This technology is built on PHCbi’s proprietary electrochemical measurement platform, cultivated through more than 30 years of blood glucose sensor development. By visualizing the metabolic state of cultured cells, which is traditionally difficult to assess, and enabling precise control of culture conditions, LiCellGrow™ supports improved cell quality and enhanced efficiency as well as lower costs through reduced losses in the manufacturing of CGT products.
Under PHC Group’s Value Creation Plan 2027, which includes a focus on Diagnostics and Life Sciences, PHCbi is developing solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in the manufacturing of CGT products. LiCellGrow™ builds on the In-Line monitoring technology introduced in LiCellMo™ (*3), a live cell metabolic analyzer launched in 2024 for research use only. From late 2026 through early 2028, PHCbi plans to expand its product lineup in phases, including culture bags with filtration functions that enhance cell recovery, pH/DO (dissolved oxygen) meter units, and cGMP-compliant dedicated consumables. These enhancements will support seamless scaling of CGT from basic research to commercial manufacturing in products such as CAR-T cell therapy.
[Key Features of the Product]
1. Automated Control and Optimization of Culture Conditions Using In-Line Monitoring Technology
By utilizing In-Line monitoring technology, LiCellGrow™ continuously tracks real-time changes in culture conditions and cell status, and automates medium exchange based on the acquired metabolic data. This enables the culture environment to be consistently maintained in an optimal state, contributing not only to improved cell quality and uniformity but also enhanced manufacturing efficiency. Furthermore, this process control approach aligns with the concept of Quality by Design (QbD) (*4), which embeds quality scientifically at the design stage rather than relying solely on final product testing. The system therefore supports the development of scientifically robust and highly reproducible manufacturing processes.
2. Single-Use Design Ensuring Aseptic Conditions and Highly Reproducible Cell Culture
LiCellGrow™ employs easy-to-attach, single-use dedicated culture bags. With automated measurement of culture conditions using In-Line sensors, the sampling tasks previously required to check glucose and lactate concentrations are no longer necessary. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination and enables closed-system cell culture that maintains aseptic conditions. In addition, the device can be placed inside a standard CO₂ incubator commonly used in laboratories, eliminating the need for special facility investments and allowing users to easily establish a reliable and highly reproducible culture environment.
Chikara Takauo, Director of PHC Corporation and Head of the Biomedical Division, commented:
“We are excited to launch LiCellGrow™ and offer therapy developers a new way to solve common challenges in quality, cost, and delivery of cell and gene therapies. Building on the success of our research-use system LiCellMo™, LiCellGrow™ represents an important step forward in making CGT manufacturing efficient, reliable, and scalable. We are committed to expanding our PHCbi offerings to continue to contribute to the adoption of CGT and other advanced therapy options for hard-to-treat conditions.”
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Overview of the 25th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
Dates: March 19 – 20, 2026
Venue: Kobe International Exhibition Hall, Building No. 2, 1st Floor (PHCbi Booth No.: T31)
Official Website: The 25th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
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(*1) https://www.phchd.com/jp/biomedical/incubation/cell-expansion-system-en
This product is intended for research use only and not for medical or clinical purposes.
(*2) Not available for purchase in the United States. Expected U.S. launch in the summer of 2026.
(*3) Live Cell Metabolic Analyzer | PHCbi
(*4) An approach to quality assurance defined in the ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) guidelines (ICH Q8–Q11) and widely adopted in the pharmaceutical field.
About the Biomedical Division of PHC Corporation
Established in 1969, PHC Corporation is a Japanese subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523), a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures, sells, and services solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. The Biomedical Division supports the life sciences industry helping researchers and healthcare providers in around 110 countries and regions through its laboratory and equipment and services including CO 2 incubators and ultra-low temperature freezers.
www.phchd.com/global/phc
About PHC Holdings Corporation
PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Epredia, LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex Corporation, and Mediford Corporation. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. The consolidated net sales in FY2024 were JPY 361.6 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries and regions. PHC Group is a collective term referring to PHC Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries.
www.phchd.com
Controller and processor, Filter-less culture bag and reservoir/waste bags *Controller and other accessories sold separately, but all of them required for operating the system.
