HII installs AAG in USS
Gerald R Ford
, while the USN begins testing of the system at NAWC Aircraft Division Lakehurst
The navy deems parallel testing and installation as necessary in order to maintain the ship's delivery schedule
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has begun installing new advanced arresting gear (AAG) in USS
Gerald R Ford
(CVN 78) while the US Navy (USN) is undergoing testing of the system.
The navy introduced new launch and recovery systems on
Gerald R Ford
, moving on from steam powered catapults and the Mk 7 Mod 3 arresting gear.
The USN is replacing the Mk 7 Mod 3 arresting gear with the AAG on CVN 78. The AAG can be fine-tuned to the specific weight and configuration of an individual aircraft. Here, an F/A-18F Super Hornet lands on the deck of USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) using the Mk 7 Mod 3. (USN)
While the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) has fared well and is being prepared for live aircraft launches, there have been some development challenges with the AAG.
While it remains on good terms with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, Kuwait is continuing to update its armed forces to face regional threats. Beth Stevenson reports