On December 22, the eleventh and last Superior Weapons Elevator (AWE) aboard U.S. Navy plane carriers USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) was turned over to the Ship’s Crew. AWEs on this first-of-class plane provider function utilizing a number of superior applied sciences together with electromagnetic motors vice extra labor intensive, hydraulic techniques. The superior expertise allows fewer sailors to securely transfer ordnance from weapons magazines to the flight deck with unparalleled pace and agility. This can be a vital milestone for the U.S. Navy, ship, and her crew. With completion of this last AWE, we now have your entire system to function and practice with.

Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) weapons division, obtain MK-82 500-pound class inert bombs on one in every of Ford’s Superior Weapons Elevators (AWE). (Picture by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan Seelbach/U.S. Navy)

The AWE Lead Unit nonetheless operates in FEC’s Elevator Take a look at Facility, a 40 foot construction that homes the total scale AWE system able to 32 ft of vertical journey. The AWE was developed collaboratively working with MagneMotion and key stakeholders from Newport Information Shipbuilding and NAVSEA. Originating as an idea in the course of the early phases of recent plane provider design research intending to exchange the Nimitz class carriers, the FEC Crew was ultimately down-selected to design and manufacture the AWE hoisting parts for the CVN 78 Ford Class. The AWE Lead Unit nonetheless operates in FEC’s Elevator Take a look at Facility, a 40 foot construction that homes the total scale AWE system able to 32 ft of vertical journey.

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Adm. Tony Radakin, right, U.K. Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, center right, receives a brief from Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) commanding officer, in one of Ford's advanced weapons elevators.
Adm. Tony Radakin, proper, U.Okay. Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Employees, heart proper, receives a quick from Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) commanding officer, in one in every of Ford’s superior weapons elevators. (Picture by Mass Communication Specialist third Class Zachary Melvin/U.S. Navy)

The Federal Gear Firm’s AWE consists of a ropeless elevator system using linear synchronous motors (LSM), superior management techniques, wi-fi expertise, in addition to many different progressive subsystems. The AWE Lead Unit endured excessive qualification trials together with shock, vibration, and EMI assessments together with intensive load and reliability testing (e.g., static, dynamic, and many others.). Finally, the AWE system efficiently achieved the 24,000 pound rated load capability and 150 ft per minute pace requirement exceeding the legacy system capability and pace by over 200% and 150%, respectively.

Aviation Ordnanceman assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) weapons department, moves ammunition onto one of the ship's advanced weapons elevators during an ammunition onload on the flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Angel Thuy Jaskuloski)
Aviation Ordnanceman assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) weapons division, strikes ammunition onto one of many ship’s superior weapons elevators throughout an ammunition onload on the flight deck. (Picture by Mass Communication Specialist third Class Angel Thuy Jaskuloski/U.S. Navy)

The Navy-Business AWE crew labored tirelessly each inport and at sea to finish the elevators to make sure the supply of wanted supplies and engineering experience. A number of distributors have collaborated alongside the best way to make sure seamless assist to multi-shift, shipboard manufacturing efforts. The crew logged this essential milestone within the midst of the ship’s six-month Deliberate Incremental Availability (PIA), at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport Information Shipbuilding facility in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to finish the PIA this spring, adopted by coaching and deployment.