General Atomics Secures $1.2B EMALS Contract for U.S., French Aircraft Carrier Projects

General Atomics has won nearly $1.2 billion to provide Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) hardware for the CVN 81 aircraft carrier.

This modification adds scope for the production, assembly, test, and management of Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) hardware with embedded software and firmware, minus Energy Storage Subsystem and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) System shipsets hardware with embedded software and firmware for the CVN 81 aircraft carrier, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement today.

Additionally, this modification provides for resolution of EMALS and AAG hardware obsolescence issues, to include firmware obsolescence, as well as non-recurring engineering in support of evaluation and implementation of engineering changes to product hardware, software, technical data, and logistics products through the configuration management process associated with the EMALS and AAG System for the CVN 81 aircraft carrier.

This modification also provides case study and developmental research in support of the potential future procurement of EMALS and AAG for the government of France, the DoD said.

The DoD approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to France in December 2021 of Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.321 billion. The French Navy’s Porte-avions de nouvelle generation (PA-Ng) next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will reportedly be fitted with U.S.-made EMALS.