Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducts AAG testing with five F/A-18E/F Super Hornets at the Runway Arrested Landing Site. Credit: US Navy photo by Sherry Jacob.

The US Navy’s newest aircraft recovery system Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) has performed 22 aircraft arrestments in around 26 minutes.

The AAG achieved the milestone during testing at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

According to the navy, the test represents the aircraft recovery system’s most demanding test event to date.

The US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 tested the capability of the AAG thermal management system to remove excess heat in scenarios that simulated the conditions encountered aboard an aircraft carrier.

The AAG is being developed by General Atomics for the navy’s newest Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carriers.

The series of tests are part of the evaluation process to ensure the system meets the operational requirements of the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78).

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (PMA-251) programme manager captain Ken Sterbenz said: “This never-before accomplished test event was effectively executed with herculean efforts by a collaborative programme office-fleet team.”

The testing also involved personnel from General Atomics, PMA-251, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst and maintainers from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8.

It was performed with five F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.

Sterbenz added: “This achievement represents a significant datapoint for AAG performance as experienced at our single-engine land-based site. I’m highly confident with AAG going into CVN 78 Aircraft Compatibility Testing early next year where the full, three-engine recovery system configuration will be utilised.”

The AAG test programme has completed over 2,600 dead-load arrestments and more than 1,570 aircraft arrestments.

General Atomics’ turbo-electric Advanced Arresting Gear solution allows for the ‘controlled and reliable’ deceleration of aircraft.

It can arrest an increased range of aircraft and enable higher availability.