U.S. Navy Catapults into Electromagnetic Power

 

Navy officers and workers with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) program recently gathered in wind-driven rain to celebrate completion of the first full-scale catapult, which precedes four shipboard catapults to be installed on the planned aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford in 2015. The $573 million contract to produce the EMALS system was awarded to primary contractor General Atomics of San Diego, Calif., in July. Electromagnetic power replaces the currently used steam power. It is more controllable - allowing operators to better adjust takeoff speed and acceleration speeds for different aircraft - and it has far fewer parts to maintain, said Sean Brennan, the program's chief engineer.

Read more about the EMALS system.

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