ANCS
Advanced Naval Control System (ANCS)
QinetiQ North America is currently designing and producing hardware and software for the next generation US Navy aircraft carrier, the CVN-78 USS Ford. Our equipment is being integrated on America’s most modern warship to launch aircraft using the Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and arrest aircraft using the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).
Our production team is currently manufacturing user control stations, motor controllers, health monitoring systems and advanced sensors to be used on the USS Ford aircraft carrier.
Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS)
The following overview of EMALS is listed on the Naval Air Systems Command website. QinetiQ North America is providing this capability as part of the General Atomics team.
EMALS is the Navy’s launch choice for Ford-class aircraft carriers, replacing steam catapults used on current and prior generations of aircraft carriers. EMALS lowers overall operating costs and reduces maintenance over current steam catapults, and provides less ‘wear and tear’ on carrier-based aircraft. EMALS also expands the mission envelope by launching a broader range of naval aircraft with less stress on the ship and aircraft systems.
Implementation of the EMALS system for the Ford-class will meet the Navy’s fixed-wing launch capability, while offering the flexibility to support future carrier air wings.
Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG)
The following overview of AAG is listed on the Naval Air Systems Command website. QinetiQ North America is providing this capability as part of the General Atomics team.
AAG is a modular, integrated system consisting of energy absorbers, power conditioning equipment and digital controls which was designed to replace the existing Mk-7 arresting gear. The Mk-7 system is a linear hydraulic machine that requires hands-on, aircraft specified tension adjustments for each landing. The Navy is currently utilizing the Mk-7, Mod 3 design on all active aircraft carriers and is developing the Mk-7, Mod 4 for the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
The AAG architecture, Health Monitoring Assessment and Prognostics technology and digital control system provides for built-in test and diagnosis, resulting in the system requiring less maintenance and manpower to operate than the Mk-7. This change in architecture is designed to provide higher reliability and safety margins, while allowing Sailors to focus on other areas of need. The system is also designed to allow arrestment of a broader range of aircraft, from the lightest unmanned aerial vehicles to the heaviest manned fighters.
Software Development
QinetiQ North America is developing the software systems for EMALS and AAG using man-rated critical safety software. The development process is fully compliant with CMMI III standards.
Manufacturing and Production
QinetiQ North America’s 14,000 square foot high bay facility supports diverse programs and process requirements across a broad range of product lifecycles from prototypes to ongoing production programs. The modular production floor has been designed to maximize flexibility while facilitating full compliance with the unique requirements and volume of each program. This state-of-the-art facility is CMMI, AS9100 and IS9000 compliant, utilizing lean manufacturing principles, techniques and processes in a paperless environment.
Current programs include full scale production of EMALS and AAG, involving the highly complex electrical assembly of ruggedized naval shipboard equipment. This ruggedized equipment is hardened and produced for compliance with naval shipboard shock, vibration and EMI military standards such as MIL-S-901, MIL-STD-167, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-STD-464. In order to ensure the highest levels of quality, all equipment is subjected to rigorous in-process audits, inspections and electrical testing with custom automated test equipment at multiple stages of production.
Expertise in Action
EMALS technology was fundamentally proven by the Navy in 2004 using a full-scale, half-length prototype, where more than 1,500 launches and armature maneuvers were conducted. Since 2008, component testing on the shipboard design has been underway, including full scale and full power tests of all components. A full scale test site at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J., is now operational and QinetiQ North America is participating in System Functional Demonstration.