he USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, This comes within the framework of the military deployment ordered by Donald Trump on the coast of the Caribbean Sea under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. Along these lines, the US State Department designated the Sun Cartel as a foreign terrorist group. Washington links this organization to the leadership of the army and the government of Venezuela. The pressure from the White House on Chief Executive Nicolas Maduro is increasing.
The USS Gerald R. Ford has the capacity to accommodate 4,500 crew members and 70 aircraft. Considered by the US Navy “The world’s most capable, versatile and lethal combat platform.” This nuclear-powered ship is more than 335 meters long and runs on nuclear power.
In addition to advanced radars and nuclear reactors, one of the most striking and advanced technologies possessed by this aircraft carrier is that it has a pioneering system of Catapult the plane to take off Electromagnetic. They are the imals (Electromagnetic aircraft launch system).
Instead of the usual steam catapults, the USS Gerald R. Ford built this system that runs on electricity generated by the ship’s two nuclear reactors. The advantages of EMALS over traditional catapults are many, from their smaller size to ease of installation, including less maintenance. But the best thing is that Allows you to launch a plane every 45 seconds, 25% faster than steam catapults.
The system that Trump did not like
- Donald Trump also spoke about EMALS. In 2017, during his first term, he stated in an interview with Time magazine that compared to traditional steam catapults, “the digital system costs hundreds of millions of dollars more and is useless.” Trump’s criticisms were reflected in a highly critical 2018 Pentagon report, which argued that the reliability of EMALS left much to be desired and that the average critical failure rate was (then) nine times higher than the Navy’s minimum requirements.
Launch more and better planes
EMALS uses electromagnetic technology to launch aircraft from the decks of Navy aircraft carriers, summarizes General Atomics, its manufacturer. The company confirms that this boot system provides… Important advantages compared to current launch systems: Greater operational launch capacity, flexible architecture adapted to different platforms, ability to launch aircraft of different weights, reduced crew and life cycle costs, thermal signature and deck weight.
The main advantage of EMALS is that Accelerates aircraft more smoothlywhich reduces pressure on their aircraft fuselages. Compared to steam catapults, they weigh less and can launch both heavy and light aircraft. next to, Reduces the need for fresh water from an aircraft carrier, reducing the demand for energy-intensive desalination.
They are all advantages. EMALS improves take-off speed, while… Reduces aircraft wear by a thirdMaintenance, support and personnel costs required for operation. It also allows for quieter working and living spaces for sailors. “As long as the EMALS system is in good condition, it will always be ready for the next take-off from any launcher,” explains Anthony Della Jacono, boatswain’s mate on the Ford aircraft launch and recovery team, as reported by Defensa.com.
China has that too
- The United States is the second largest navy in the world, with 440 active ships and submarines, according to Global Firepower. Because the largest naval power in the world is the Chinese Navy. It has a fleet of 754 active warships and submarines. Since 2020, China has equipped several of its aircraft carriers with modern EMALS catapults. Until then, only the US Navy had this technology.
And AAG for landing
The massive US aircraft carrier also has advanced AAG arrest equipment (Advanced detention equipment). It’s the system Responsible for slowing down aircraft when they land on the ship’s deckUsing a series of steel cables linked to a hydraulic thrust absorption system. To do this, when landing, the plane deploys a hook to catch those cables that transmit the plane’s power to the hydraulic system responsible for braking it.
EMALS and AAG allow more aircraft to be launched and recovered more efficiently.
According to General Atomics, the AAG system offers significant advantages over existing recovery systems: Greater availability Safety margins, operational capacity to recover the expected wing, Reduced staff and maintenanceand self-diagnosis and maintenance alerts.
Advantages of combining EMALS and AAG
The order of the USS Gerald R. Ford highlights the efficiency of adding both systems. According to Captain Paul Lanzilotta, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier, the new EMALS and AAG systems ensure reliability, reliability and availability. Allowing more aircraft to be launched and recoveredAnd in a more efficient way.”
EMALS and AAG affect the aircraft’s orientation on the deck of an aircraft carrier, as faster turns lead to more efficient logistics management on that deck, says Commander Mike Simpson, the ship’s air officer. “Ford’s enhanced flight deck offerings Increased lethality, survivability and interoperability Shared, while reducing operating and maintenance costs.
Flight deck personnel are trained on Launch and recover aircraft every 60-70 secondsDetails of the aircraft carrier’s air officer. The length of the cycle depends on the amount of time personnel are working on deck and the amount of time available to refuel and rearm the aircraft. Courses range in length from 45 minutes to 2 hours.