General Atomics awarded $1.2bn to develop EMALS electromagnetic catapult for US and French aircraft carriers

France and the US want the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for their aircraft carriers. The US company General Atomics will be developing it.

Here's What We Know

The contract is worth $1.2 billion, the agreement was announced on the official website of the US Department of Defense. Work will take place at General Atomics' plants in California, Mississippi and New Jersey until September 2032.

Under the contract, the manufacturer will develop the EMALS system for the future aircraft carriers USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) and PANG of the US and French Navy respectively. The agreement also calls for the development of an advanced air finisher for the US ship.

EMALS is an electromagnetic catapult. The linear induction motor has disconnectable and connectable segments. The launcher contains a trolley to which the fighter is clung. As it moves, the trolley passes between guides with electromagnets, activating the sections it approaches. Sections that are left behind are deactivated at this time. The maximum launch energy exceeds 122 megajoules.

As for the air finisher, it contains a cable device, hydraulic brakes, a mechanical brake and electric motor-generators. It also includes capacitors. They are used to store energy that is generated during braking of the aircraft.

Source: Pentagon