First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope paid a visit to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Lakehurst at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL) on Monday, October 17th. Met by NAVAIR Commander Vice Admiral David Architzel, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Commander Rear Admiral Randolph Mahr and Ms. Kathleen Donnelly, senior engineer for Support Equipment (SE) and Aircraft Launch and Recovery (ALRE), Admiral Stanhope and his staff received briefings and toured the NAVAIR facilities at JB MDL.

With the Royal Navy’s interest in the Electromagnetic Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) technology that is being tested and readied for installation on the next generation U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, VADM Architzel and Ms. Donnelly discussed and showcased the new systems with Admiral Stanhope.

EMALS will replace the steam catapult system which has been in use for more than 50 years. The system at Lakehurst is a full-scale shipboard representative test platform that includes the major software and hardware components to be installed on the Gerald R. Ford.

The mission and functions of EMALS remain the same as the steam catapult; however, EMALS employs entirely different technologies. Consisting of six subsystems, the launching system is designed to expand the operational capability of the U.S. Navy’s future carriers.

EMALS delivers the necessary higher launch energy capacity as well as substantial improvements in system maintenance, efficiency, and more accurate end-speed control. The system’s technology allows for smooth acceleration at both high and low speeds, increasing the carrier’s ability to launch aircraft in support of the warfighter. The system will provide the capability for launching all current and future carrier air wing platforms – lightweight unmanned aircraft to heavy strike fighters.

AAG is a modular, integrated system consisting of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls that will also replace the Mk-7 arresting gear on all existing carriers. The Mk-7 system is a linear hydraulic machine that requires hands-on, aircraft specified tension adjustments for each landing. The AAG design is rotary-based and operates with a digital control system which provides greater control of the arresting forces. The aircraft energy is absorbed by a combination of hydraulic shock absorbers, water twisters, friction brakes and electric motors.

Admiral Stanhope’s visit to JB MDL is one in a series of visits by British naval officials to understand the working of these systems and determine if they will be compatible and cost effective for eventual procurement within the Royal Navy’s fleet.

According to Ms. Donnelly, “sharing technology and engineering concepts are key elements in maintaining good working relationships with close allies such as Great Britain. We are pleased to host Admiral Stanhope and his staff in discussing the advantages of EMALS and AAG.”