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The United States has signed off on a $1.83 billion deal to deliver aircraft launch systems to France.
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The US State Department has greenlit the sale of Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and related equipment to the government of France for an estimated US$1.32 billion ($1.83 billion).
Included in the deal is the delivery of:
- land-based testing and test spares;
- shipboard install;
- testing and certification support;
- shipboard spares;
- peculiar support equipment;
- government furnished equipment;
- multi-purpose reconfigurable training system;
- operator and maintainer training;
- integrated electronic technical manuals;
- drawings and interface control documents; and
- technical assistance; contractor engineering technical services.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve security of a NATO ally which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted in a statement.
“The proposed sale will result in continuation of interoperability between the United States and France.”
EMALS and AAG is set to be incorporated in France’s next-generation aircraft carrier program with the support of prime contractors General Atomics-Electromagnetic Systems Group and Huntington Ingalls Industries.
Approximately 40 US government and contractor representatives are expected to be assigned to France for 10 weeks per year in calendar years 2033-2038.
The representatives will be tasked with supporting shipboard system installation, commissioning, certification, aircraft compatibility testing, flight deck certification and sea trials.
[Related: French presidential hopeful: “I am for leaving NATO”]
