US Navy's newest Ford Class Aircraft carrier which was commissioned to service on July 22, has commenced shipboard aircraft recovery and launch trials.
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) launched and recovered its first fixed-wing aircraft on July 28, 2017, off the coast of Virginia.
Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Struck of Tallmedge, Ohio piloted the F/A-18F Super Hornet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 based at Patuxent River, Maryland.
The combat jet was launched using the new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which replaced the traditional steam catapults, and was arrested using the Ford's advanced arresting gear (AAG) system.
The EMALS uses a linear motor drive system, replacing the steam pistons, to accelerate the aircraft to take off speeds.
Major advantage of the systems is its feedback control system which enable launching any type of future and planned Navy's carrier aircraft, from lightweight unmanned aircraft to heavy strike fighters.
Unlike the steam pistons, the EMALS impart only the required force to launch an aircraft depending on its weight, hence it provide a smooth acceleration thereby putting less stress on the airframe.
The system also occupy less space, require less maintenance, and is more efficient than the 5 percent efficient steam catapults.
The software-controlled AAG is a modular, integrated system that consists of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls, with architecture that provides built-in test and diagnostics, resulting in lower maintenance and manpower requirements.
AAG is designed to provide higher reliability and safety margins, as well as to allow for the arrestment of a greater range of aircraft and reduce the fatigue impact load to the aircraft.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship in the Ford-class of aircraft carrier weighing 100,000 tonnes, the first new class in more than 40 years, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers.
U.S. Navy plans to spend $43 billion developing and building the three new Ford-class ships--Ford, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80). Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Gerald R. Ford class is designed with significant quality-of-life improvements and reduced maintenance. These innovations are expected to improve operational availability and capability compared with Nimitz-class carriers.
Even though the new vessels have a hull similar to the Nimitz carriers, in addition to EMALS and AAG, the Gerald R. Ford class also incorporates advances in technology such as a new nuclear reactor plant, propulsion system, electric plant, machinery control, Dual Band Radar and integrated warfare systems. Compared to Nimitz-class carriers, the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers have more than 23 new or modified systems.
