QinetiQ contracted for Ford-class EMALS, AAG equipment deliveries

QinetiQ North America will be delivering control hardware and software for the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and the advanced arresting gear (AAG) under a contract with General Atomics.

US Navy photo of USS Gerald R Ford

The company announced it has completed negotiations on the contract which it originally received from General Atomics (GA) in Sept 2017.

The equipment to be delivered will be installed on the US Navy’s third Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future Enterprise (CVN 80). The contract reflects a multi-year production task to update, procure, assemble and test launch control and arresting control hardware.

QNA supports the GA and the US Navy by designing, manufacturing and testing aircraft launch and arresting control hardware and software for the Ford-class aircraft carriers. QNA has delivered product to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ test site and to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The company said it is currently in production on the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).

“We are excited to once again work with, General Atomics to deliver a third ship-set of control systems for the future Enterprise. Our team is proud that equipment designed and built at QNA is currently being used by US Sailors to launch and recover aircraft at sea. We look forward to providing the same high quality product and service for the future Enterprise,” stated Andrew Courier, vice president of Maritime at QinetiQ North America.

Hardware production and testing is slated at QNA’s new Franklin, MA facility.