The Navy launches its first fighter from the radical electromagnetic catapult onboard the $12.9bn aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford
- Navy successfully launched and recovered F/A-18F Super Hornet jet using the EMALS system for the first time
- The system can accelerate aircrafts of all sizes smoother than ever before, also weighing and costing less
- It launched off the USS Gerald R. Ford, the warship just commissioned and heavily praised by Donald Trump
An F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet has been shot into the sky during the first-ever launch and recovery using the U.S. Navy's new electromagnetic catapult system.
The test happened aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's new $12.9 billion warship, which was commissioned and heavily praised by Donald Trump just a week ago.
The new technology - called the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS - has previously shown it can hurl dead-loads, but this is the first time the catapult-like launcher has propelled an actual aircraft into the air.
A fighter jet was shot into the sky during the first-ever launch and recovery using the U.S. Navy's new electromagnetic catapult system - the revolutionary feat happened aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest warship commissioned and heavily praised by Donald Trump a week ago
The first arrested landing, or 'trap', occurred at 3:10 PM EST, and the first catapult launch happened at 4:37 PM EST, this past Friday off the coast of Virginia, the Navy revealed today.
'AAG and EMALS have been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, New Jersey, but this is the first shipboard recovery and launch of a fleet fixed wing aircraft,' said Capt. Rick McCormack, Ford's commanding officer. e
It comes after a years delay to the ship after there were issues with the carrier's advanced systems and technology, including its aircraft landing equipment and power generation, identified.
This work is a collective effort by the U.S. Navy and Ford, as well as several other entities.
'My team has worked very hard, together with experts from NAVAIR, Huntington Ingalls Industries, and General Atomics, to test this first-in-class technology,' said Cmdr. Thomas Plott, head of Ford's air department.
'Today is a validation of their dedication and hard work.'
EMALS is meant to function just like the traditional steam catapult but with more advanced technology - mainly it is designed to expand the operational capability of future carriers to support everything from lightweight unmanned aircraft to heavy strike fighters.
HOW THE EMALS CATAPULT WORKS
The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System uses a linear motor drive instead of the conventional steam piston drive.
EMALS has been in development for the Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.
It's meant to launch aircrafts from a carrier using the catapult method.
But rather than using a conventional steam piston drive, it uses a linear motor drive instead.
This accelerates the aircraft more smoothly and puts less stress on the airframes.
It also weighs and costs significantly less and requires little maintenance.
It's designed for to be flexible in launching both light and heavy aircrafts.
The UK, China and India have also show interest in or began developing systems that use EMALS. The technological improvements allow for a higher-launch energy capacity, improvements in system maintenance, increased reliability and efficiency, as well as more accurate end-speed control and smooth acceleration.
The software-controlled AAG, or advanced arresting gear, is a modular, integrated system that consists of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls.
It's designed to provide higher reliability and safety margins, even having built-in testing and diagnostics that results in lower maintenance and manpower requirements.
Additionally, the architectural features that provide safer and reliability also allow for the arrestment of a greater range of aircraft and reduce the fatigue impact load to the aircraft.
'I could not be more proud of the men and women who, for the better part of the last two decades, have worked to bring these new technologies to the fleet,' said Capt. Stephen Tedford, program manager.
'Their perseverance and dedication to service have made this day possible.'
An F/A-18F Super Hornet jet flies over the USS Gerald R. Ford as the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier tests its EMALS magnetic launching system, which replaces the steam catapult, and new AAG arrested landing system in the Atlantic Ocean July 28, 2017
Left, An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 performs an arrested landing aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) . Right, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Darius Jarmon lubricates the new EMALS electromagnetic aircraft launching system, which replaces the steam-piston catapult
The launch occurred aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, which Donald Trump commissioned last week, declaring that the most advanced aircraft carrier to join the Navy will cause America's enemies to 'shake with fear' whenever they see its form cutting across the horizon.
'I hereby place United States Ship Gerald R. Ford in commission,' Trump said after delivering a speech in which he praised the U.S. military and the American labor that went into building the 100,000-ton, $12.9 billion warship.
'May God bless and guide this warship and all who shall sail in her,' Trump said.
'I could not be more proud of the men and women who, for the better part of the last two decades, have worked to bring these new technologies to the fleet,' said Capt. Stephen Tedford, program manager. 'Their perseverance and dedication to service have made this day possible'
It's the most expensive warship ever built, costing nearly $13 billion.
After eight years in development, the ship embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems this past April.
That opening test came almost an entire year after 'poor or unknown reliability issues' were identified in a memo last year.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE USS GERALD R. FORD
About 5,000 shipbuilders have been involved in the construction of the Navy's most expensive warship.
The USS Gerald R. Ford will weigh almost 100,000 tonnes - or as much as 400 Statue of Libertys.
The ship has a five-acre flight deck, and holds 4,660 personnel and 75 aircraft, and was designed completely using 3D computer modelling.
A nuclear power plant designed to allow cruising speeds of more than 30 knots (34 miles per hour) and operation for 20 years without refueling.
It also has a smaller island that sits farther back on the ship to make it easier and quicker to refuel, re-arm and relaunch planes
It's the most expensive warship ever built, costing nearly $13 billion. After eight years in development, the ship embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems this past April
It has more than 10,000,000 feet of electronic cable built in.
There are two other ships in the Ford class: the USS John F. Kennedy and a new USS Enterprise - expected to be commissioned in 2020 and 2025 respectively. The total cost for the three vessels is estimated to be more than $43 billion.
The giant warship is 1,106-foot long and will be capable of launching 220 airstrikes per day from its two runways, while appearing almost invisible to radar detectors.
The USS Gerald R. Ford will replace the USS Enterprise, which was in service from 1962 to 2012.
The ship is able to launch so many airstrikes - one almost every six minutes - because the deck uses electromagnetic force to propel the jets forward. It is a similar method as used on roller coasters.
The vessel can carry more planes and operate with several hundred fewer sailors. Flying missions are expected to increase by a third.
Construction on the Ford started in 2009 - It was supposed to finish by September 2015 and cost only $10.5 billion. But there were issues with the carrier's advanced systems and technology, including aircraft landing equipment and power generationConstruction on the Ford started in 2009 - It was supposed to finish by September 2015 and cost only $10.5 billion.
But there were issues with the carrier's advanced systems and technology, including aircraft landing equipment and power generation.
The $12.9 billion supercarrier (pictured during construction in April 2014) could potentially struggle with planes landing and taking off, moving military weapons and being able to successfully defend itself, a report a year ago warned, forcing the ship's sea trials to be delayed
On June 16, 2015, Susan Ford Bales participated in a demonstration of the new electromagnetic catapults on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford. Difficulty with the new catapult system is one of the main reasons for the latest delays with the ship's delivery
A military memo dated June 28 detailed just how the issues plaguing the carrier would impact it:
'These four systems affect major areas of flight operations,' Defense Department Director of Operational Test and Evaluation Michael Gilmore wrote to Pentagon and Navy weapons buyers.
'Unless these issues are resolved, which would likely require redesigning, they will significantly limit the CVN-78’s ability to conduct combat operations.
President Donald Trump left, waves to the crowd as he is introduced by Defense Secretary James Mattis, right, aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford for it's commissioning
'Based on current reliability estimates, the CVN-78 is unlikely to conduct high-intensity flight operations at the outset of a war.'
The USS Gerald R. Ford is unique in a number of ways, and that applies to its bathrooms as well.
The ship is the first carrier to have gender-neutral bathrooms on board.
Each sleeping quarter in the ship - which can hold more than 5,000 sailors - will not have urinals in their bathrooms, but instead have seated toilets that can be used by anyone.
While seated toilets cost more, are less sanitary and take up more space than urinals, they do have their advantages.
A Navy spokeswoman said that having seated toilets will make it easier to switch room assignments for each sleeping quarter - or berth - between genders.
'This is designed to give the ship flexibility because there aren't any berthing areas that are dedicated to one sex or the other,' Operations Specialist 1st Class Kaylea Motsenbocker told Navy Times.
Women account for 18 per cent of sailors in the Navy.
The USS Ford is named after the country's 38th president, who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II
Susan Ford Bales, the ship's sponsor and daughter of the 38th president, whom the ship honors, recently praised the carrier as well.
'There is no one, absolutely no one, who would be prouder of the commissioning of this mighty ship than the president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford,' she said.
'I am honored to give the command: 'Officers and crew of the United States Gerald R. Ford, man our ship and bring her to life.''
And with those few words, the ship was brought to life - 'Anchors Aweigh' played and sailors who stood in formation in their crisp, white uniforms began filing off to their stations.
Within minutes, the captain was informed that 'the ship is manned and ready and reports for duty to the fleet.'
Trump arrived aboard the carrier's steamy flight deck by the Marine One presidential helicopter and was greeted by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other officials.
Trump - who visited the carrier in March to promote his plans for a military buildup - told Time magazine this year that the Navy should revert to using steam catapults to launch fighter jets because some of the state-of-the-art systems and technology aboard the USS Ford 'costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it's no good.'
Daughter of former President Gerald Ford, Susan Ford-Bales, gives the command for the ship to come alive aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet jet piloted by LCDR Jamie R. Struck approaches the USS Gerald R. Ford to make the first landing using the AAG arrested landing system in the Atlantic Ocean July 28, 2017.
'I was with you four months ago and I knew that I had to be here today and I told you I'd be back to congratulate you and the crew and everybody involved in commissioning the newest, largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the history of this world,' Trump said Saturday. 'That's a big achievement.'
The return visit Saturday fell during what the White House has coined as 'Made in America' week, during which Trump and other administration officials highlighted a wide assortment of products - ranging from trucks and helicopters to baseball bats and glass bottles for pharmaceuticals - that are manufactured in the United States.
'This is American craftsmanship at its biggest, at its best, at its finest,' Trump said aboard the carrier during his previous visit. 'American workers are the greatest anywhere in the world. This warship, and all who serve on it, should be a source of shared pride for our nation.'
The Ford was built at Newport News Shipbuilding, the giant Navy contractor in Virginia. Trump tweeted before departing Saturday for the ceremony that the Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world.
USS Ford eventually will house about 2,600 sailors, 600 fewer than the previous generation of aircraft carriers
The Ford was built at Newport News Shipbuilding, the giant Navy contractor in Virginia. Trump tweeted before departing Saturday for the ceremony that the Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world
Gerald R Ford rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II.
After military service, Ford was elected to the House of Representatives, serving Michigan until he was tapped by President Richard M. Nixon to become vice president.
Ford became president after Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal.
Docked at Naval Station Norfolk, the USS Ford eventually will house about 2,600 sailors, 600 fewer than the previous generation of aircraft carriers.
The Navy says that will save more than $4 billion over the ship's 50-year lifespan.
The air wing to support the Ford could add more personnel to the ship, which is designed to house more than 4,600 crew members.
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