For over 70 years, America’s aircraft carriers relied on hydraulic arresting gear for the recovery of aircraft. The system was reliable and proven—but mechanically outdated. So, with the cutting-edge Gerald R. Ford-class, the Navy introduced the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), a fundamental redesign of how carrier aircraft are recovered. Like the EMALS, AAG has faced technical hurdles, raising questions about whether the tech transition was worthwhile. 

The AAG replaces the Mk 7 hydraulic arresting system used on the Nimitz-class carriers. Developed by General Atomics, AAG was designed to recover heavier aircraft, like the F/A-18 and the F-35C, as well as lighter aircraft, like UAVs and future platforms—ultimately accommodating the full spectrum of carrier-capable aircraft as future fleets diversify. 

The core idea, from a technical perspective, is to replace analog hydraulic braking with digitally controlled energy absorption. With traditional arresting gear, the aircraft snags a cable, which is attached to hydraulic pistons, offering fixed resistance.........

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