The Navy recently launched F-35C test aircraft CF-3 with its new electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
Testing the F-35C on EMALS provided an early opportunity to evaluate technical risks and began the process to integrate the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter with the future carrier fleet aircraft launching system.
This summer, the F-35C test team completed more than 50 steam catapult launches to perform an initial structural survey and collected steam ingestion data. The steam ingestion data produced robust results, allowing a reduction in the number of test launches by four.
Along with the steam launch data, the EMALS launch testing also provided information for the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence as the UK proceeds with including EMALS in the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.
EMALS is set to install on the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).Watch a video of the launch.Learn more from Navair.
Navy Tests Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
