How far will the US Navy’s FF(X) design deviate from the Legend-class?
The new frigate class’s focus on modularity, speed to build and enhanced armament align with the priorities of the US Navy’s Golden Fleet.
EMALS and AAG cleared for US Navy aircraft on CVN 78
The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) have been cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed US Navy aircraft types aboard USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced on 11 February.
The system approvals are signalled by the navy’s issue of Aircraft Launch Bulletins and Aircraft Recovery Bulletins, which identify the weights and engaging speeds authorised for shipboard aircraft launch and recovery.
Gerald R Ford completed at-sea Aircraft Compatibility Testing of a range of aircraft in January, including F/A-18E/F, E-2D, C-2A, EA-18G, and T-45C, to prove EMALS and AAG can accommodate them.
GA-EMS is also delivering EMALS and AAG for the future John F Kennedy (CVN 79) and Enterprise (CVN 80).
Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said: ‘EMALS and AAG can launch and recover the current air wing and any future aircraft, to provide greater flexibility than the legacy systems aboard Nimitz-class carriers.‘The navy is expecting flight deck certification to take place in the coming months and will conduct a steady stream of cats and traps this year – we’re talking in the thousands - to move the ship closer to full mission capability and capacity.’
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