Founded in 1955 as a division of General Dynamics, General Atomics (GA) and its affiliated companies now constitute one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to electromagnetic systems, remotely operated surveillance aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electronic, wireless and laser technologies.
GA headquarters in San Diego, California
GA had an initial charter to explore peaceful uses of atomic energy. Leading scientists came to GA, forming the nucleus of a staff, which, including affiliated companies, currently numbers about 8,000. GA carries out the largest and most successful nuclear fusion program in private industry. The company has been the primary developer of modular helium-cooled nuclear power reactor systems, and its TRIGA® research reactors have operated around the world for over 50 years. GA and its affiliated entities also manufacture, operate, and service state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicles, are engaged in uranium mining and processing, and provide nuclear instrumentation, aircraft launch and recovery systems, superconducting magnets, systems for hazardous material destruction, magnetic levitation systems, medical diagnostic products, information technology and many other products and services for government and industry.
For almost 60 years, GA and its affiliates have been qualified by U.S. Government organizations, including the Department of Energy, Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation, as a government contractor and facilities operator. GA and affiliates' facilities contain over three million square feet of engineering, laboratory and manufacturing installations in the San Diego area. GA and its affiliates also have operations in Berlin, Dresden, Adelaide, Washington, D.C., and several U.S. cities.
The General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) is a supplier of advanced electromagnetic systems, related power equipment and other high tech products for a variety of defense, energy, and commercial applications.
GA-EMS has leading-edge expertise in the design and fabrication of linear motors, superconducting and conventional rotating motors, power inverters, high-voltage DC power distribution systems, and numerous other energy conversion, distribution, and storage systems. GA-EMS is a world leader in applying electromagnetic technologies to aircraft launch and recovery and projectile launch. EMS electromagnetic railguns will launch projectiles from surface ships and stationary or mobile ground units at a fraction of the cost of conventional ordnance. GA-EMS also produces a variety of high technology products for the commercial market, including high power inverters, high-energy capacitors and radiation monitoring systems.
Tupelo, Mississippi test and manufacturing center
GA-EMS advanced aircraft launch and recovery systems will increase the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations carried out on board the nation's next generation of aircraft carriers. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) will use electromagnetic power to launch aircraft from the decks of aircraft carriers, replacing the steam-driven catapults that have been used since the mid-20th Century. The Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system will use advanced energy storage devices to decelerate planes when they land on aircraft carriers. These innovations will improve the efficiency of naval aircraft operations, while extending the operating life of naval aircraft.
The EMALS and AAG work is being performed in offices in San Diego, California and in its 367,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tupelo, Mississippi. All GA-EMS facilities have an ISO 9001:2008-certified quality management system. Since 2005, GA has invested $50 million in the Tupelo facility, which manufactures power conversion system components for EMALS and AAG as well as EMALS linear motors. In addition, we integrated a printed circuit board fabrication and test facility and have achieved MIL-STD-2037 certification to manufacture and refurbish electric motor sealed insulation systems. We also can now manufacture and test high power motors from kilowatts to 15 megawatts and machine high tolerance parts.
GENERAL ATOMICS
3550 General Atomics Court
San Diego, CA 92121
Telephone: 858-455-3000
Fax: 858-455-3621
www.ga.com