Kato Engineering awarded $90 million contract to provide the Energy Storage Subsystems on the CVN 81 Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier

North Mankato, MN – Kato Engineering (Kato) announced today it was awarded a contract to provide the Energy Storage Subsystems (ESS) for the Navy’s newest Ford-Class aircraft carrier, the USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Headquarters. The contract has an approximate value of $90 Million.

The ESS is comprised of 12 motor-generators and control systems and powers the carrier’s aircraft launch system. Instead of relying on steam to power the aircraft launch system, the new Ford Class carriers use an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). EMALS’ operational performance to date has proven that it is more consistent, powerful, and precise than legacy systems while providing a better quality of life for fewer required maintainers.  

This is the fourth aircraft carrier using Kato’s ESS. Previously, Kato supplied the ESS for the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and the USS Enterprise (CVN 80). “We are thrilled with this award and the opportunity to once again provide these motor/generators to the US Navy. We have a highly skilled workforce and have great relationships established with our key suppliers. This combination is why we have a very strong working relationship with NAVAIR,” states Nidec’s Kato Engineering President and General Manager, Kevin Newman. “We have been supplying power generation solutions on-board US Navy ships for decades and our intention is to continue to do that for decades into the future”. 

Work has commenced and will continue through 2027 on this program.

About Kato Engineering:

Founded in 1926, Kato Engineering is now part of Nidec’s Motion & Energy business and manufactures Kato Engineering brand electric generators / alternators, energy storage products and specialty electric motors in its facilities in North Mankato, Minnesota and Lexington, Tennessee. Kato Engineering has a reputation for designing specialty electrical energy products for the most difficult applications and environments. The Kato Engineering name has become synonymous with dependable and high-quality power generation products, worldwide.

About Nidec Motion & Energy:

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Nidec Motion & Energy is part of the world’s leading electric motor manufacturer Nidec Corporation, comprised of 340 group companies and 100,000 employees. Nidec is a pioneer in electrification across a wide array of industries since its foundation in 1973, ranging from information technology, automotive, appliance, commercial, industrial and machinery. Nidec Motion & Energy is a trusted development partner in multiple high-growth spaces including industrial automation, vehicle electrification and electrical infrastructure, providing world-class technology, support, and localized manufacturing to support industry leaders across the globe.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information:
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the intent, belief, strategy, plans or expectations of the Nidec Group or other parties. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the risks to successfully integrating the acquired business with the Nidec Group, the anticipated benefits of the Transaction not being realized, changes in general economic conditions, shifts in technology or user preferences for particular technologies and changes in business and regulatory environments. The Nidec Group does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

Media contact: Kato Engineering
Jim Twardowski

507-345-2886                                      

jim.twardowski@mail.nidec.com

NAVAIR Public Release 2023-706. Distribution Statement A – “Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.”