General Atomics unveiled concepts for the installation of a new drone launch system on a variety of vessels, including the Royal Navy’s Daring-class (Type 45) destroyer and U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base.
The company claims the “Electric Launch System for Unmanned Aircraft” is part of a broader effort to support the launching of drones in constrained environments both on land and at sea.
“As you know, with the proliferation of RPAS [Remotely Piloted Aircraft System] worldwide, whether on land or sea, we’ve been asked to look at the launch of RPAS in very small footprint from Navy vessels. It’s been looked at primarily Europe right now. Possibly over in the Indo-Pacific area too,”
Gary Hopper, Vice President of Strategic Development at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems told Naval News.
Concepts for the installation of the Electric Launch System for Unmanned Aircraft on the Daring-class destroyer, Expeditionary Sea Base Ship, Izumo-class helicopter destroyer and Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Courtesy of General Atomics
The company stressed that the concepts shown on the show floor of the annual Surface Navy Association symposium were “entirely different” from the company’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System seen on the Ford-class aircraft carriers and the future French Navy PANG. According to Hopper, the concept prioritizes the launching of unmanned systems compared to the fighter and support aircraft launched from carriers. Compared to EMALS, the drone launcher requires a minimal footprint on a vessel. Company graphics claim that the launcher only needs a 4 foot by 2 foot installation area.
“It doesn’t have the same redundancy, same requirements you have for manned flight. So it’s a lot simpler system that (can be) put on, possibly some the British carriers or other vessels,”
said Hopper.
Installation proposals on the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Izumo-class carriers were also displayed. In addition, a rendering for a ground-based system in support of expeditionary missions was highlighted. Electromagnetic Systems also confirmed that Aeronautical Systems, a sister company, is examining this concept for the deployment of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft from land-based airfields.
Hopper noted that further designs were being examined by the company for other countries within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and characterized the broader effort as an initiative by the alliance to get unmanned aerial systems onto vessels beyond aircraft carriers.
“There are other we’re looking at some other examples, other NATO countries. I’d say it’s more of a NATO initiative to look at putting it on aircraft. So we use that particular vessel, but there are other vessels out there, again, similar, similar size. In fact, we’re talking about takeoff distance of 22 meters, not very long at all,” said Hopper.
General Atomics Mojave drone taking off from ROKS Dokdo – ROK Navy Photo
General Atomics performed tests of its drones of HMS Prince of Wales (R09) and ROKS Dokdo (LPH-6111) in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The company told Naval News that it is working on a “very unique recovery plan” given the lack of space on surface combatants and support vessels to receive the drones.
Top Photo: A rendering of the Electric Launch System for Unmanned Aircraft on a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. Courtesy of General Atomics
Source: Naval News