General Atomics gains USN installation qualification
Alteration Installation Team status for GA-EMS will be particularly relevant for aircraft catapult launch and arresting gear systems. (Photo: NAVAIR)
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems can independently perform shipyard alterations of its EMALS and AAG systems.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced on 9 September that its engineers can now be contracted to independently perform shipboard alterations and system modifications aboard USN vessels during maintenance availability periods.
Alteration Installation Team (AIT) qualification will be particularly relevant for aircraft catapult launch and recovery systems that GA-EMS has installed on land and aboard Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carriers.
GA-EMS will manage the AIT effort from its recently expanded facility in Hampton, Virginia, which is near the Newport News shipyard where Ford-class carriers are under construction.
USS Gerald R Ford is already undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability maintenance period.
James Donnelly, GA-EMS director of maritime programmes, added that the company’s experience in designing, manufacturing, installing and supporting complex engineering projects such as Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) could be translated for other USN ship classes.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![RTX Raytheon enhances SM-3 and SM-6 production capacity]()
RTX Raytheon enhances SM-3 and SM-6 production capacity
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
-
![What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement]()
What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
