US Sells 'EMALS' and 'AAG' Installed on Gerald R Ford-Class Aircraft Carriers to France
China Appeases France After US Betrayal... US Enhances NATO Military Capabilities
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The United States has decided to sell the 'Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS)' to appease an angry France over the sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. EMALS is a cutting-edge device installed on the Gerald R. Ford-class, the latest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the United States.
Australia decided in September to receive nuclear-powered submarine technology from the United States and canceled its diesel submarine purchase contract with France. Australia had signed a contract with France in 2016 to purchase up to 12 diesel submarines. Enraged by this, France recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Australia, causing a rapid deterioration in relations between the U.S. and France.
The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, cited an official announcement from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) under the Department of Defense, reporting that the U.S. will sell the advanced EMALS, necessary for launching carrier-based aircraft, to France. The People's Daily also reported that the U.S. will sell the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) along with EMALS.
EMALS is an advanced catapult system that uses electricity instead of steam to launch carrier-based aircraft over short distances. It is known that using EMALS increases the aircraft launch speed by about 30%. It also enables the operation of large attack drones and fixed-wing early warning aircraft, significantly enhancing the combat and defense capabilities of aircraft carriers. Given that it is a state-of-the-art device, the U.S. does not sell EMALS even to its allies.
The price is also considerable. The cost of EMALS and AAG to be installed on France's next aircraft carrier is reported to be $1.32 billion (approximately 1.566 trillion KRW). The People's Daily reported that France has allocated $5.6 billion (about 6.65 trillion KRW) for the construction of its next-generation aircraft carrier. EMALS and AAG account for 23% of the total aircraft carrier construction cost.
The People's Daily added that with the U.S. State Department's approval of the sale of EMALS and AAG, only congressional approval remains.
In fact, the DSCA announced on its website that it has submitted related documents to Congress to sell EMALS and AAG to France. The DSCA explained that the sale of EMALS and AAG will help strengthen NATO's military capabilities.
The People's Daily reported that this is the first arms deal between the U.S. and France since Australia canceled its diesel submarine purchase contract with France and decided to buy U.S. nuclear-powered submarines. The sale of these cutting-edge EMALS and AAG is seen as a U.S. strategic move to appease an angry France.
France announced last December plans to commission a next-generation aircraft carrier (Nimitz-class) with a full load displacement of 70,000 tons by 2040. France stated it will build a next-generation aircraft carrier capable of launching and recovering 40 carrier-based aircraft, early warning aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is known to be retiring in 2038.
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