How Aircraft Carrier Arresting Gear Stops Fighter Jets

Landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier is one of the most demanding operations in aviation.

Naval aircraft approach the deck at high speed with only a few hundred meters of runway available. To stop safely, aircraft carriers use a powerful mechanical system known as arresting gear.

When the aircraft lands, a reinforced tailhook grabs one of several steel arresting cables stretched across the flight deck. These cables are connected to energy-absorbing arresting engines below the deck that rapidly slow the aircraft down.

Within just a few seconds, a fighter jet traveling at landing speed can be brought to a complete stop.

In this video we break down the engineering behind aircraft carrier arresting gear and how it allows naval aircraft to operate safely at sea.

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Some footage courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense via the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).

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