ELECTROMAGNETIC AIRCRAFT LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS
Launching a New Era in Naval Aviation Next Generation Launch and Recovery on U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Susan Wojtowicz, Director Launch & Recovery Development, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems
Revolutionary Systems for Launch and Recovery Operations The U.S. Navy has been utilizing steam catapults on its carriers for more than 50 years. Existing steam-driven catapults on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers will be replaced, beginning with Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), by the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) as a forwardfit program. The arresting gear in use today will be replaced by the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). These systems provide a revolutionary advance in carrier launch and recovery operations and offer a less stressful environment for shipboard operators, aircrews and aircraft. The systems will require significantly less maintenance and onboard personnel, with a correspondingly reduced life-cycle cost. EMALS is expected to: • Reduce manning workload • Minimize thermal signature • Increase launch operational ability • Optimize cycle time to flight deck requirements • Reduce topside weight • Reduce installed volume • Be UAV/UCAV-capable EMALS is a multi-megawatt electric power system involving generators, energy storage, power conversion, a 100,000 hp electric motor and an advanced technology closed-loop control system with diagnostic health monitoring. In late 1999, the U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded a contract to General Atomics (GA) to build and test a prototype EMALS. In 2004, GA received a contract to build a fullscale EMALS at NAVAIR’s test site and perform system validation tests.
The EMALS contract confirmed General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group is a world-class developer of high power, state-ofthe-art controlled power magnetic components
CVN 78 - FIRST TO HAVE ELECTRIC LAUNCH AND RECOVERY
and systems
The U.S. Navy’s required performance metrics critical to the success of EMALS were all two to five times greater than the state-of-the-art: motor shear stress ≥30 psi; power conversion power density ≥10 kW/kg; and stored energy power and energy density ≥3 kW/kg and 5.0 kJ/kg. Each metric has been successfully demonstrated to meet or exceed the requirement. One of two contracts to develop the AAG system was awarded to GA in 2003. GA won a down-select and the demonstration contract in 2005. Since then, GA has completed more than 5,600 simulated arrestments on full-scale electrical components in its facility in San Diego, California. A single-wire AAG has been installed at NAVAIR’s land-based test facility in Lakehurst, New Jersey. This system has been commissioned by arresting deadloads simulating various aircraft weights. System performance verification testing is currently in progress. The AAG program will provide U.S. Navy aircraft carriers with an electric motor-based system that WWW.DEFENCEINDUSTRYREPORTS.COM | 3