US Navy contracts General Atomics for first Gerald R. Ford on board EMALS, AAG spares

The US Navy has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) a contract to deliver the first set of on board repair parts (spares) for the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear (AAG) system on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

GA-EMS said this delivery order also provides spares to support the AAG land-based site at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

“We’ve worked tirelessly with the Navy to bring these complex and transformative systems to life, from the initial EMALS and AAG concepts through the first successful F/A-18F aircraft launch and arrestment on CVN 78 at sea ,” stated Rolf Ziesing, vice president of Programs at GA-EMS. “This delivery order, along with other GA-EMS delivery orders and contracts, provides the Navy with a source for spares, depot repairs, and technical support necessary to keep EMALS and AAG performing efficiently and consistently.”

Under the various delivery orders and contracts, GA-EMS will provide equipment assessment and analysis, quality assurance, manufacturing, and integration for parts at their manufacturing facility in Tupelo, MS. In addition, GA-EMS personnel will provide technical support on board CVN 78 during at-sea ship certification evolutions. Hands-on crew training is also being offered at the GA-EMS ship-set control lab in San Diego, and at the land-based test sites at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.