General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems' (GA-EMS) advanced arresting gear (AAG) system has completed the first fly-in aircraft recovery of an F/A-18E Super Hornet.
The F/A-18E fly-in recovery was conducted on 13 October at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) at Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
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The demonstration follows more than 200 successful roll-in test arrestments at the site since March this year, and more than 1,300 dead-load arrestments, General Atomics said in a statement.
GA-EMS AAG chief engineer Andy Gibbs said: "The fly-in recovery of the F/A-18 Super Hornet illustrates AAG's capabilities to perform as predicted, under conditions similar to today's carrier operations.
"We're collecting data to support the development of an Aircraft Recovery Bulletin, a critical step toward arresting the aircraft on CVN 78.
"We look forward to continuing success as the AAG system undergoes planned testing activities for additional aircraft types and models."
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By GlobalDataDesigned for controlled and reliable deceleration of aircraft recovery operations on carriers, AAG is a turbo-electric system that is installed on-board CVN 78 along with the GA-EMS electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
The EMALS employs electromagnetic technology to launch aircraft from the deck of naval aircraft carriers and has completed system testing on CVN 78.
GA-EMS president Scott Forney said: "We're tracking to a very aggressive testing schedule, and this fly-in recovery marks a major step toward AAG readiness for on-board testing on the Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)."
Built by Boeing, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is capable of landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier.
The twin-engine, supersonic, all weather multirole fighter jet is fitted with conformal fuel tanks, an enclosed weapons pod, an enhanced engine and a reduced radar signature.
Image: F/A-18 Super Hornet arrested during testing. Photo: courtesy of General Atomics.
