QinetiQ Group’s North American subsidiary has been contracted to support the delivery of control hardware and software for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) of a new aircraft carrier for the US Navy.

The contract was originally awarded by General Atomics in September last year.

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QinetiQ North America is expected to deliver the EMALS and AAG solutions for integration on-board the US Navy’s third Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80), under the arrangement.

"We are excited to once again work with General Atomics to deliver a third ship-set of control systems for the future Enterprise."

The scope of the deal also involves a multi-year production task to update, procure, assemble and test the contracted launch control and arresting control hardware.

QinetiQ North America Maritime vice-president Andrew Courier said: “We are excited to once again work with General Atomics to deliver a third ship-set of control systems for the future Enterprise.

“Our team is proud that equipment designed and built at QinetiQ North America is currently being used by US Sailors to launch and recover aircraft at sea.

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“We look forward to providing the same high-quality product and service for the future Enterprise.”

The production and testing of the hardware is slated to be carried out at the company’s new facility in Franklin, Massachusetts, US.

QinetiQ North America has been supporting General Atomics and the US Navy for more than ten years by designing, developing and testing aircraft launch systems, as well as arresting control hardware and software for the next-generation Ford-class carriers.

The company is currently manufacturing the solutions for the US Navy’s second Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).

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