FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 19, 2003
San Diego, CA, 19 August 2003. General Atomics (GA) announces the award of an $11.3 million contract with the Naval Air Warfare Center for the Component and Technology Development (CTD) phase of an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) System. GA's contract is one of two contracts awarded for the CTD phase. At the end of this CTD phase, the Navy will downselect to one contractor for the performance of the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase. The first production unit will be deployed in 2009.
The AAG system will provide the Navy with important new operational advances for safely and efficiently recovering carrier-based, tailhook-equipped aircraft. The system will be back-fitted onto existing CVN 68 class carriers and forward-fitted onto CVN 21 and future carriers. The goal of GA's AAG concept is to significantly improve the arresting capabilities of the Navy's carriers while simplifying operation, maintenance, and supportability requirements, and reducing life-cycle costs.
GA's team members on this program include Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation, Foster-Miller, Inc., Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation, and John J. McMullen Associates, Inc. Under the direction of Program Manager, Dr. Carmelo Rodriguez, the GA team will be responsible for program management, system integration, system design, fabrication, and integrated testing.
The AAG Program will be carried out in GA's Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) Division, which currently has several projects aimed at increasing electrical functionality aboard Navy ships. They include Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Linear Motor, Integrated Fight-Through Power, and Superconducting Homopolar Motor. Mike Reed, Director of the EMS Division, states, "GA's EMS Division is focused on transformational electric technologies for the U.S. Navy fleet. The award of the AAG contract is a significant step for GA in helping provide the Navy with reduced-maintenance, higher performing advanced technologies."
About General Atomics
General Atomics, founded in 1955, specializes in diversified research, development, and manufacturing in defense, energy, and other advanced technologies. Affiliated manufacturing and commercial service companies include General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., which builds the family of Predator®, Predator® B, GNAT, Prowler, and Altus® UAVs.
For further information contact:
Dr. Carmelo Rodriguez
AAG Program Manager
858.455.2579
carmelo.rodriguez@gat.com
Mike Reed
Director, Electromagnetic Systems
858.455.2446
mike.reed@gat.com
Doug Fouquet
Public Relations
858.455.2173
fouquet@gat.com