French Navy’s works on its future aircraft carrier Porte-avions de Nouvelle Génération (PA-NG) continue. US Company General Atomics (GA) is awarded an $8,837,078 firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement which provides for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) development subsystems and six energy absorber subsystem Advanced Arresting Gear System.
The order includes two or three launch motor subsystems for EMALS. The work is expected to be completed in June 2023. The order will be part of U.S. Foreign Military Sales and the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
The EMALS has many advantages in comparison to the steam piston-driven system. A linear induction motor assists aircraft take-off from the flight deck. EMALS is first installed on the USS Gerald R. Ford. It accelerates aircraft more smoothly, putting less stress on their airframes, and requiring fewer regular checks on the landing gear. It also weighs less, is expected to cost less, requires less maintenance, and can launch both heavy and light aircraft. It reduces the carrier’s requirement for fresh water, thus reducing the demand for energy-intensive desalination. The system is distributable, which eases design facilities on the carrier. The most crucial advantage, however, is that it allows a higher frequency of take-offs.
The construction of the PA-NG is expected to begin around 2025. It is expected to enter service in 2038 when the current aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle retires.
