General Atomics Now Sole Provider of Launch and Recovery Systems for FORD-class
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced on 12 June it has won a sole source contract modification to supply its Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for the USS ENTERPRISE – the third FORD-class aircraft carrier for the US Navy (USN). This established the company as the sole provider of launch (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System – EMALS) and recovery (AAG) systems for the first three carriers in the class – GERALD R FORD, JOHN F KENNEDY and ENTERPRISE.
“This is a significant step toward ensuring all the materials and support associated with EMALS and AAG are readily available to launch and recover aircraft from FORD-class carriers for decades to come,” Scott Forney, President of GA-EMS, stated. “CVN 78 (FORD) was delivered in May. Construction on CVN 79 (KENNEDY) is well underway. And work is scheduled to begin on CVN 80 (ENTERPRISE) within the year. This contract strengthens our ability to provide the Navy with optimised production schedules to successfully deploy and maintain AAG and EMALS on the carriers as they serve our nation over the next 50 plus years.”
GA-EMS will provide all production, manufacturing, engineering, design and programme management, logistics support, and information assurance. AAG has undergone successful aircraft fly-in arrestment testing at the Runway Arrested Landing Site at Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Tim Mahon