General Atomics (GA) has been awarded the sole source production contract modification for the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), which is to be fitted on the US Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80).

The contract modification is part of the larger production contract secured by GA for the navy’s second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), which is currently under construction.

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The deal has been awarded to the defence contractor in order to facilitate considerable cost savings for the US Navy over the coming decade and beyond.

EMALS is being developed by GA to facilitate the launch of an aircraft from the US Navy aircraft carriers, and will replace the existing steam catapult.

GA Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) president Scott Forney said: “We are extremely proud to be selected as the sole source provider of this first-of-kind aircraft launch technology for all three of the navy’s Ford-class carriers, including CVN 78, CVN 79, and now CVN 80.

"This contract allows the navy to combine procurement of materials associated with EMALS for CVN 79 and CVN 80, to optimise cost savings and production scheduling."

“This contract allows the navy to combine procurement of materials associated with EMALS for CVN 79 and CVN 80, to optimise cost savings and production scheduling.

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“We look forward to working closely with the navy over the next ten-plus years to provide all the capabilities and support necessary to successfully deploy EMALS on each carrier as they prepare to join the fleet.”

GA-EMS will be responsible for offering all production, manufacturing, engineering, design and programme management services under the agreement, along with logistics support and data assurance, and will subcontract the necessary component manufacturing works to various suppliers across the country.

EMALS dead load testing on-board Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) has been successfully completed.