General Atomics to equip the future French aircraft carrier with its electromagnetic catapults

In a statement released on 19 August, the Pentagon announced that it had notified the American company General Atomics of an order worth nearly €9 million to adapt EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System) electromagnetic catapults to the future next-generation aircraft carrier (PANG).

This order “provides for the development of a sub-system with two or three launch motors, in a configuration adapted to two EMALS energy storage groups. And also of an AAG (Advanced Arresting Gear) recovery system with three arresting wires and six energy absorbers, compatible with the French government’s future aircraft carrier and offering an acceptable mission capability.” The studies, carried out in California and Mississippi, are expected to be completed in June 2023.

EMALS launches aircraft from the flight deck using a linear induction motor rather than a steam piston. When powered, the motor generates a magnetic field that propels a shuttle to which the aircraft is attached. This type of catapult offers several advantages. They are lighter, cost less and require less maintenance. In addition, the mechanical stresses on aircraft fuselages are lower, and the system can launch lighter aircraft than a steam catapult. This is extremely useful when you want to launch a drone from an aircraft carrier. General Atomics, incidentally, began developing a navalised version of its Reaper drone last May.