Defence News: General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has won a major contract from the United States Navy for the ongoing engineering and logistics sustainment operations of Gerald R. Ford-class Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) systems. The contract has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent, MD.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) will provide critical engineering, technical, configuration management and program support for EMALS and AAG systems installed aboard Ford-class carriers.
“We are proud to continue our working relationship with the Navy and extend our support for these critical technologies as the program advances into a new phase,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS.
“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,” he said.
Scott Forney said the company’s in-depth knowledge, expertise and commitment to provide a full range of lifecycle support services will ensure these systems meet or exceed mission requirements as long as these first of its kind systems remain in service.
Presently sea tests are going on for US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
According to the company, in February this year, EMALS and AAG were cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed naval aircraft types aboard CVN 78.
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General Atomics bags major contract.
“More than 2,300 successful day and night aircraft launches and recoveries using EMALS and AAG onboard CVN 78 have been completed,” said the company in a statement.
CVN 78 has successfully completed Flight Deck Certification, Aircraft Compatibility Testing, and Fleet Replacement Squadron training exercises for pilots to earn their qualifications on specific aircraft, said General Atomics (GA-EMS).
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General Atomics supplies EMALS, AAG to 3 US Navy Carriers
General Atomics said its EMALS and AAG systems continue to perform and execute according to specifications with the objective of reaching the sortie generation rates required for combat readiness.
GA-EMS is delivering EMALS and AAG for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and USS Enterprise (CVN 80).
General Atomics said significant cost savings are being realized through multiple ship production contracts, which minimize gaps in production while maximizing planning, scheduling and delivery to support all three Ford-class carriers.
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