The Navy has decided to stick with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the new Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) carrier class after reviewing the program's cost and schedule delays and weighing the feasibility of reverting to a steam catapult, the service announced today. "EMALS technology promises to lower overall life-cycle costs, require less maintenance than steam catapults and generate less physical stress on carrier-based aircraft," Navy spokesman Lt. Clay Doss said. "EMALS also provides an increased sortie rate over...
