Weapons Elevator Designed for Future
1
2,006
Edited by Robert H. Williams
Aircraft Carrier
Northrop Grumman Corporation selected Federal Equipment Company to design and build an advanced weapons elevator for the new-generation aircraft carrier, CVN 21.
The company received a $50 million contract following a year-long design competition. Federal Equipment and its partner, MagneMotion, were chosen to develop a full-scale prototype elevator for land-based testing. Prototype testing will be completed by late 2007, and they will begin to manufacture the production units, which are scheduled for shipboard installation in mid-2010.
The weapons elevator is a "vital component to enhancing flight-deck operations," said Mike Shawcross, vice president for the CVN 21 program at Northrop Grumman Newport News. The new elevator operates by a permanent magnet linear synchronous motor, eliminating the need for wire ropes.