by defenceupdate · May 6, 2017
The Indian Navy will become the second navy in the world to deploy the advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to launch planes from its aircraft carriers and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) to recover these planes after the U.S. Department of Defense recently approved the sale of these sophisticated systems to India.
DoD recently granted General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), the California-based developer of EMALS, export approval for both EMALS and AAG to the Indian Navy.
EMALS is designed to replace the steam catapult systems currently used on all 10 of the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class, nuclear powered aircraft carriers. The newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is the first carrier to deploy EMALS. The Ford is scheduled for deployment in 2019.
EMALS launches carrier-based aircraft from an aircraft catapult using a linear motor drive instead of the conventional steam piston drive.
Its main advantage is it allows for a more graded acceleration, inducing less stress on the aircraft’s airframe. It’s also lighter than a steam catapult system and cheaper to operate. In addition, EMALS can launch aircraft that are heavier or lighter than those handled by steam catapults.
more:
http://defenceupdate.in/indian-navy-gets-us-go-ahead-deploy-emals-aag-new-super-carrier/
