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
-
![UK MoD faces ‘serious’ ASW gap as Defence Committee outlines Arctic requirements]()
UK MoD faces ‘serious’ ASW gap as Defence Committee outlines Arctic requirements
Anti-submarine warfare, uncrewed vessels and seabed monitoring top the demand list in the Defence Committee’s High North roadmap for the 2030s.
-
![Autonomy gives Turkey a chance to outflank established naval shipbuilders]()
Autonomy gives Turkey a chance to outflank established naval shipbuilders
Turkish shipbuilders have sold ships from Asia to Europe, but autonomy and swarm technology could give them a fairer fight against Western European rivals.
-
![Canada assesses security equipment changes for Polar Icebreaker Imnaryuaq]()
Canada assesses security equipment changes for Polar Icebreaker Imnaryuaq
The Canadian Department of National Defence is evaluating communications and reconnaissance changes for CCGS Imnaryuaq’s expanded maritime security role, while retaining its 2032 acceptance target.
-
![All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids]()
All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids
Responses are due by 29 October as the Royal Navy tests the market, with BAE Systems’ Herne and MSubs’ Excalibur setting up a contest where payloads may decide the winner.
