COBI Charles de Gaulle (R91) – Executive Edition Announced!
We’re kicking things off with a real blockbuster: COBI is launching the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) as an Executive Edition with set 4867.
The French Navy’s flagship in miniatureThe “Charles” is no ordinary ship: It is the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the U.S. Navy and has been in service with the French Navy since 2001. COBI has chosen this very impressive original as the subject of its latest major project—the set was created to mark the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, in cooperation with Naval Group.
Key technical specifications:
- 4,423 pieces
- Scale: 1:300
- Assembled dimensions: 86.5 cm long, 23.5 cm wide, 28.5 cm high
- Weight: approx. 6 kg
- Build time: approx. 8 hours
- Manufactured in Europe (Poland)
The deck is equipped with catapults and arresting cables, plus functional elevators, a detailed replica of the island’s structure complete with radar systems, and a French flag to hoist on the mast.
What’s included in the Executive Edition?The Executive Edition is the centerpiece of the set and comes with a number of extras:
- 3 exclusive minifigures: the ship’s commander, a deck officer dressed in yellow, and a Naval Group engineer
- 7 mini Rafale Marine fighter jets
- 1 surveillance aircraft for airborne early warning
- A display stand with a black plaque for presentation
- The official patch of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as an exclusive bonus
The set is priced at €359.90 and is currently available for pre-order. Shipping is scheduled to begin on October 16, 2026.
Important to know: This Executive Edition is exclusive to the French market and is sold through the official Marine Nationale boutique—not through regular COBI retailers. So, anyone outside of France who wants to get their hands on it will need to order through the official shop or resort to import channels.
But there’s good news for anyone who can’t get their hands on the limited edition: A standard version with set number 4868 is also in the works. This version is set to go on sale without the special French markings—similar to what happened with the COBI Le Triomphant-class submarine (4859), which was initially released as an exclusive set in collaboration with Naval Group and became widely available shortly thereafter. If you’d like to take a closer look at the set: We’ve already featured the Sous-Marin SNLE (4859) in our video, and you can also find the set details in our set database.
Bonus: Even More French Flair—COBI Renault 5 Alpine Police
To go along with this maritime release, there’s another French announcement from the COBI universe: the 1976 Renault 5 Alpine Police, set number 24677.
Key details:
- approx. 140 pieces
- Scale 1:35
- 1 police officer minifigure included
- Pre-production render, officially licensed Renault product
The model is based on a sporty Renault 5 Alpine variant from the late 1970s, which was used at the time by French police and gendarmerie units with its distinctive paint scheme. The set joins COBI’s now quite extensive Renault 5 lineup, which includes not only the police version but also the Alpine Turbo and other Turbo variants.
Again, please note: This is currently still a pre-production render; specific pricing and availability details for the German market have not yet been announced—we’ll keep you updated as soon as official information becomes available.
My Conclusion
Following the Top Gun aircraft carrier and the USS Enterprise, COBI goes one better with the Charles de Gaulle—and demonstrates once again that the 1:300-scale aircraft carrier series has become a true flagship for the brand. The combination of premium extras, collaboration partner Naval Group, and the historical background makes this set particularly interesting for military and naval fans. And with the little retro police car, COBI shows that French flair doesn’t always have to weigh several kilograms—even in a compact format, there’s plenty of charm to be found.
What do you think of the two new sets? Will you order them through the French boutique, or would you rather wait for the standard version 4868? And will you pick up the little police car?
Sources: Official French Navy Boutique, Facebook, COBI Catalog 2026/1 International