A look at the newly debuted Compact Swaging Machine that automates the decades-old, labor- and time-intensive socket pouring process for Sailors producing purchase cable terminals used for recovering aircraft aboard U.S. carriers. (U.S. Navy graphic)
Day or night, visual, optical and surveillance systems enable shipboard takeoff, landing and situational awareness for Sailors on deck as well as approach and landing cues for pilots.
Current VLA includes flight deck status and signaling systems, hover position indicators and precision approach path indicators. The stabilized glide slope indicator, improved Fresnel lens optical landing system and manually operated visual landing aid system complement surveillance systems, like the integrated launch and recovery television surveillance system.
The ability to safely recover aircraft is vital to our military mission. As aircraft become more advanced, recovery procedures must be able to meet the demands with state-of-the-art technology.
The Navy has been using steam for more than 50 years to launch aircraft from carriers. The launcher commodity encompasses not only catapults, but also the catapult control stations and jet blast deflectors.
The Integrated Catapult Control System (ICCS), or “bubble,” is a station located in carrier flight decks. It combines current remote stations to provide intercommunication during each aircraft launch.
Information Systems plays an integral part in aircraft launch and recovery, from managing air operations onboard the ship to gathering wind speed and other data for landing signal officers to relay to pilots in the air. Advanced technologies and capable equipment are required to meet the needs of the fleet.
Expeditionary Airfields (EAF) allow military aircraft to launch and land in any flat terrain, making it an in-disposable commodity for our armed forces and NATO allies.
EMALS is the Navy’s newest complete carrier-based launch system designed for USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and future Ford-class carriers. The launching system is designed to expand the operational capability of Ford-class carriers, providing the Navy with capability for launching all current and future carrier air wing platforms – lightweight unmanned to heavy strike fighters. The mission and function of EMALS remains the same as the traditional steam catapult; however, it employs entirely different technologies.
The CSM is an advanced hydraulic system that uses up to 800 tons of pressure to swage a terminal onto an aircraft carrier purchase cable. This terminal connects to the cross deck pendant that stretches across the flight deck which engages the arresting hook of an awaiting aircraft allowing for a smooth, controlled arrestment.
AAG is a new system developed for the Navy’s future aircraft carriers and is installed on board USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78); the system will also be installed on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80). AAG is a modular, integrated system consisting of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls, designed as the follow-on to the Mark-7 (Mk-7) arresting gear. The Navy is currently utilizing the Mk-7 Mod 3 and Mk-7 Mod 4 designs on all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
