GA-EMS to support flight deck equipment on new USN aircraft carriers
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is to provide engineering and logistics services for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) aboard the USN’s Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carriers.
‘This contract signals the programme is now moving from the design and development phase, and into concurrent production and sustainment phase, providing sustaining engineering, material and maintenance support for all Ford-class aircraft carriers,’ Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said on 18 May.
In February this year, EMALS and AAG were cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed naval aircraft types aboard the first-in-class vessel, USS Gerald R Ford. The aircraft carrier has also successfully completed flight deck certification, aircraft compatibility testing, and fleet replacement squadron training exercises for pilots to earn their qualifications on specific aircraft.
In addition, GA-EMS is delivering EMALS and AAG for the other two carriers in the class: the future USS John F Kennedy and USS Enterprise.
The company claims that ‘significant cost savings are being realised’ through multiple ship production contracts, which minimise gaps in production while maximising planning, scheduling and delivery.
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Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN 79 to CVN 81) [USN]
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