Aircraft
Launch & Recovery Equipment (ALRE)
 NAVAIR
Lakehurst is responsible for the equipment to launch aircraft from
aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields, to guide them back to the
ship or field and to recover them. As we say, "Without us they
don’t go and they can’t get back". This equipment includes
steam catapults (and in the future, the Electromagnetic catapult (EMALS)),
shipboard and expeditionary arresting gear, shipboard barricades (in
case the aircraft should miss the arresting gear), and visual landing
aids.
ALRE for which NAVAIR Lakehurst is
responsible include:
-
The C13 Mod 2
low-pressure catapult - increased cylinder diameter means lower
required steam pressure from the ship's boilers, increasing
reactor life.
-
The Electromagnetic
Aircraft Launching System (EMALS) - the next generation catapult
currently under development to free the ship from the requirement
of supplying steam to launch aircraft.
-
Shipboard and
shorebased arresting gear including the MK7 MOD 4 arresting gear
installed on the CVN76 Ronald Reagan
-
The Advanced Launch
and Recovery Control System (ALRCS) - using available sensor and
control technologies to modernize launch and recovery control
systems
-
The VSTOL Optical
Landing System (OLS) - permitting all-weather VSTOL aircraft
operations from amphibious assault ships. Guides the aircraft to
50 feet above the flight deck up to the final approach phase.
-
Virtual Imaging
Systems for Approach and Landing (VISUAL) - Provides the LSO/ship’s
company with enhanced images of approaching aircraft and critical
recovery information.
-
The A/S32P-25 (P-25) -
the new Fire Fighting Vehicle provides increased flow rates and
remote control capability on board aircraft carriers and
amphibious assault ships.
-
The Aviation Data
Management and Control System (ADMACS) - a tactical, real-time
information management system maintaining data integrity
throughout the ship spaces that manage aircraft launch and
recovery operations on CV/CVN and LHA/LHD class ships.
-
The Integrated
Shipboard Information System (ISIS) - a user interface system
providing the data display and entry used to manage flight
operations data integrated into the workflow of the space.
-
Aviation Weapons
Information Management Systems (AWIMS) - a data management system
designed to collect, distribute and display information used to
manage weapons inventory and allocation conducted in all ordnance
loading and storage spaces of an aircraft carrier.
-
As well as jet blast
deflectors, wind measuring and indication systems, shipboard
marking and lighting, air capable ship Recovery, Assist, Securing
and Traversing (RAST) systems, expeditionary airfield arresting
systems, visual landing aids and matting and aviation facility
certification.
NAVAIR Lakehurst is
responsible for the definition, development, acquisition and life cycle
support of ALRE systems. As such, NAVAIR Lakehurst is the Boeing,
Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman of the ALRE world - the Navy's prime
contractor for catapults and arresting gear.
The ALRE vision is to continue to provide
the Naval Aviation community with the safest, most capable, efficient
and cost effective systems and equipment by:
-
Continuously and
incrementally improving current systems and equipment
-
Appropriate insertion
of technological advancements and leveraging technology to reduce
systems cost and manning
-
Taking full advantage
of joint service opportunities and private sector partnerships
-
Reducing costs by
embracing acquisition reform principles and increasing the use of
modeling and simulation techniques
-
Remaining the world's
expert in Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment
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