The Navy awarded San Diego-based General Atomics an initial contract for the advanced electromagnetic catapults and aircraft-landing system on the second of a new class of nuclear aircraft carriers, the John F. Kennedy.
The electromagnetic catapults replace the steam-powered systems currently being used on U.S. aircraft carriers. The new system is lighter, takes less space and is more reliable, according to the company.
The contract is for the initial procurement of the long-lead-time materials in support of a full production contract for installation on CVN 79, the second of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2023.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Components will be produced at General Atomics’ state-of-the-art, 367,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Tupelo, MS.
The company was awarded the prime contract for the same systems on the Gerald R. Ford, which was launched in 2013.
