Electromagnetic Catapult System Bound For NextGen Carriers

General Atomics tells ANN the company celebrated a milestone November 16, 2007 with the successful completion of the final critical design review (CDR) for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Capt. Stephen Rorke, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Aircraft Launch & Recovery Equipment program manager, thought the review "was a rousing success" and praised the team for their "dedicated efforts to complete preparations for this review."

EMALS prime contractor, General Atomics, began manufacturing EMALS linear motor components in its Tupelo, MS facility earlier this year, and will be manufacturing additional subsystems over the next year. GA has recently completed construction of a 5,000 square foot high cycle test facility for EMALS launch equipment and is planning to double the size of its existing fabrication facility to support this and other projects.

Staff is also expected to double by 2009 from the current 30 employees.

"This is good news on two counts," says Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). "From a national defense perspective, it affirms that EMALS will be a key component in helping make our next-generation aircraft carriers more efficient and effective in projecting U.S. military power. It is good news for Mississippi because it strengthens our partnership with General Atomics. This high-tech production is providing jobs in Tupelo with the potential for even more growth in the months ahead. I look forward to working with General Atomics and the Navy in advancing this important work."

EMALS, a new electromagnetic aircraft launch system for the next-generation aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford class (CVN-78), will replace the current generation of steam catapults. This switch to an electromagnetic system will lower operating costs, require fewer people to operate, improve catapult performance and expand the range of manned and unmanned aircraft that the aircraft carrier can launch.

The next step in the process is to begin installing the full size, ship representative EMALS equipment in the recently completed EMALS test facilities at Naval Aviation Engineering Station Lakehurst, NJ. The EMALS equipment installation is scheduled to begin in mid 2008, with actual testing to begin in early 2009. Testing will continue throughout 2009.

The first components of the EMALS equipment are scheduled to be delivered in 2011 for installation in the CVN-78. The Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to be delivered to the US Navy in 2015.

FMI: www.ga.com, www.navair.navy.mil