The mission and function of EMALS remains the same as the traditional steam catapult that has been used since the 1950s however, it employs entirely different technologies. The new ship has four EMALS catapults engineered to draw power from any of three energy storage groups, according to a 2015 Defense Tech article.ĭriven by the world's most powerful linear induction motor, the EMALS is revolutionizing the way the Navy launches aircraft from the next generation of aircraft carriers. VIDEO: Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) Rick McCormack, Ford's commanding officer. "AAG and EMALS have been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, NJ, but this is the first shipboard recovery and launch of a fleet fixed-wing aircraft," said Capt. 2 arresting wire of Ford's advanced arresting gear (AAG) system and was launched from catapult No. Jamie Struck of Tallmedge, OH, piloted the F/A-18F Superhornet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 based at Patuxent River, MD. The system also features a reduced topside weight and reduced installed volume. One of the other primary benefits of the system is closed-loop control. The goal is to be capable of launching all future aircraft projected in the inventory through 2050. In addition, steam catapults have a finite recharging period, whereas the electric system is virtually instantaneous.ĮMALS will be capable of launching all conventional- and short-takeoff fixed-wing carrier aircraft currently projected for the Navy inventory through 2030, including the Joint Strike Fighter. EMALS is intended to be inherently more survivable, provide better performance, be less manpower intensive, and have a lower life cycle cost than steam catapults. Navy, the traditional steam catapults are large, heavy, energy inefficient, manpower intensive, and dependent on steam provided by the ship's engineering plant. Ford's First Fixed-Wing Aircraft Launchįord is the first carrier to use EMALS, which is kind of like an electro-magnetic railgun for aircraft launching.Īccording to the U.S. The exercises took place off the coast of Virginia. Less than one week after it was commissioned, the Ford officially launched and recovered its first fixed-wing aircraft on July 28, 2017, using the Navy's new electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear (AAG). Ford (CVN 78), but it won't be the catapult that will be steam powered.
Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. It may be "full steam ahead" for the U.S. The aircraft carrier is underway conducting test and evaluation operations. An F/A-18F Super Hornet flies over USS Gerald R.
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