Company Delivering Aircraft Launch and Recovery Systems for All Three Ford-Class Carriers
SAN DIEGO, CA, 12 JUNE 2017 - General Atomics (GA) announced today that it has been awarded a sole source production contract modification for the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80). This contract award establishes GA as the sole source provider of both AAG and the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the first three Ford-class carriers, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and Enterprise (CVN 80).
“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,” stated Scott Forney, president of GA Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS). “CVN 78 was delivered in May. Construction on CVN 79 is well underway. And work is scheduled to begin on CVN 80 within the year. This contract strengthens our ability to provide the Navy with optimized 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 program management, logistics support, and information assurance. GA-EMS will also subcontract to suppliers across the United States for necessary component manufacturing support. AAG has undergone successful aircraft fly-in arrestment testing at the Runway Arrested Landing Site at Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
“AAG is installed and undergoing testing on CVN 78, which recently completed the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) trials,” stated Rolf Ziesing, vice president of Programs at GA-EMS. “We are extremely proud to be part of a program that is delivering first-of-a-kind aircraft launch and recovery technologies to the first three, most advanced carriers scheduled to join the fleet in the past 40 years.”
About General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ history of research, development and technology innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions supporting aviation, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.
For further information contact:
EMS-MediaRelations@ga.com