QinetiQ US awarded contract to deliver hardware for US Navy’s next-generation aircraft carrier.

According to a PR published by Qinetiq on September 5, 2024, the company has been awarded a contract by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) to supply critical control hardware and software for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) on the U.S. Navy's upcoming Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future Doris Miller (CVN 81).
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Artist rendering of the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller. (Picture source: Twitter account of Admiral James Stavridis)

Under this multi-year production task, QinetiQ will be responsible for updating, procuring, assembling, and testing control hardware integral to the operation of EMALS and AAG.

For over a decade, QinetiQ has worked alongside GA-EMS and the U.S. Navy, providing the hardware and software for EMALS and AAG control systems on the lead ship of the class, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), as well as for future carriers John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and Enterprise (CVN 80).

USS Doris Miller

The vessel is part of a dual-ship procurement strategy alongside the USS Enterprise (CVN-80), aimed at streamlining construction and reducing costs.

Construction of the Doris Miller formally began in 2021 with a steel-cutting ceremony, and it is scheduled to reach significant milestones in the coming years. The keel laying is planned for 2026, with the ship expected to launch in 2029 and be delivered to the Navy by 2032. Current progress on the vessel stands at around 13%, and the ship will feature cutting-edge systems like the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).

The Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, including the Doris Miller, are intended to replace the aging Nimitz-class carriers, offering improved power generation, better flight deck operations, and advanced radar and weapons systems.

Technical data

The USS Doris Miller is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a full load displacement of approximately 100,000 long tons (100,000 tonnes). Measuring 1,106 feet (337 meters) in length and with a beam of 134 feet (41 meters), it features a draft of 39 feet (12 meters). The vessel is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors, which provide propulsion through four shafts, enabling the ship to reach speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h or 35 mph).

With an operational range limited only by the reactor's lifespan, which is typically 20 to 25 years, the carrier can operate for extended periods without refueling. It has a complement of 4,660 personnel to support its operations. The USS Doris Miller is equipped with surface-to-air missiles and close-in weapon systems for defense. It also has the capacity to carry more than 80, and potentially up to 90, combat aircraft. Its aviation facilities include a flight deck measuring 1,092 feet by 256 feet (333 meters by 78 meters).