General Atomics’ Aircraft Launch and Recovery Systems Cleared for USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Jets

General Atomics’ Aircraft Launch and Recovery Systems have been cleared for use aboard USS Gerald R.Ford aircraft carrier jets.

“Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) have been cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed Naval aircraft types aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78),” the company said in a statement Tuesday.

The company is delivering EMALS and AAG for the future John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and Enterprise (CVN 80). 

“The Navy is expecting flight deck certification to take place in the coming months and will conduct a steady stream of cats and traps this year – we’re talking in the thousands - to move the ship closer to full mission capability and capacity,” stated Scott Forney, President of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS).

The Navy issued Aircraft Launch Bulletins (ALB) and Aircraft Recovery Bulletins (ARB) which identify the weights and engaging speeds authorized for shipboard aircraft launch and recovery, and signal EMALS and AAG are operationally safe for use aboard CVN 78. On January 31, 2020, CVN 78 completed at-sea Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT) utilizing a range of aircraft for the flight deck testing, including F/A-18E/F, E-2D, C-2A, EA-18G, and T-45C, to prove EMALS and AAG can accommodate the air wing aircraft.