Electromagnetic catapult

Last updated

An electromagnetic catapult, also called EMALS ("electromagnetic aircraft launch system") after the specific US system, is a type of aircraft launching system. Currently, only the United States and China have successfully developed it, and it is installed on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers and the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian. The system launches carrier-based aircraft by means of a catapult employing a linear induction motor rather than the conventional steam piston.

Contents

Electromagnetic catapults have several advantages over their steam-based counterparts. Because the rate of aircraft acceleration is more uniform (and is configurable), stress on the airframe is reduced considerably, resulting in increased safety and endurance and lower maintenance costs for the aircraft. Electromagnetic systems also weigh less, are expected to cost less and require less maintenance, and can launch both heavier and lighter aircraft than steam catapults. They also take up less space below the flight deck and require no fresh water for their operation, thus reducing the need for energy-intensive desalination.

History

Developed in the 1950s, steam catapults have proven exceptionally reliable. Carriers equipped with four steam catapults have been able to use at least one of them at 99.5% of the time. [1] These have, however, several drawbacks. One group of Navy engineers wrote: "The foremost deficiency is that the catapult operates without feedback control. With no feedback, there often occurs large transients in tow forces that can damage or reduce the life of the airframe." [2] The steam system is massive, inefficient (4–6%), [3] and hard to control. These control problems allow Nimitz-class aircraft carrier steam-powered catapults to launch heavy aircraft, but not aircraft as light as many unmanned aerial vehicles.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) developed the first operational modern electromagnetic catapult, [4] named Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), for the United States Navy. The system was installed on USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, replacing traditional steam catapults. This innovation eliminates the traditional requirement to generate and store steam, freeing up considerable area below deck. With the EMALS, Gerald R. Ford can accomplish 25% more aircraft launches per day than the Nimitz class and requires 25% fewer crew members. [5] The EMALS uses a linear induction motor (LIM), which uses alternating current (AC) to generate magnetic fields that propel a carriage along a track to launch the aircraft. [6] [7] A system somewhat similar to EMALS, Westinghouse's electropult, was developed in 1946 but not deployed. [8]

China developed an electromagnetic catapult system in the 2000s for aircraft carriers, but with a different technical approach. Chinese adopted a medium-voltage, direct current (DC) power transmission system, [9] instead of the alternating current catapult system that United States developed. [6] [10]

Systems under development

The concept of a ground carriage is intended for civilian use and takes the idea of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system one step further, with the entire landing gear remaining on the runway for both takeoff and landing. [11]

China

Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo of the Chinese Navy has said that China's next aircraft carrier will also have an electromagnetic aircraft launch system. [12] Multiple prototypes have been spotted by the media in 2012, and aircraft capable of electromagnetic launching are undergoing testing at a Chinese Navy research facility. [13]

According to a report in July 2017, the construction of the Type 003 aircraft carrier has been rescheduled in order to choose between a steam or electromagnetic catapult and the latest competition results shows that the electromagnetic launchers will be used in the Type 003 aircraft carrier. [14] [15]

China's military chief claims a breakthrough in electromagnetic launch systems for aircraft carriers has been made, and will utilize such a system in the third aircraft carrier that China will build after Type 002. The launch system is powered by fossil fuel via generators and capacitors. [16] [17] [18] The design on the Type 003 carrier is being led by Rear Admiral Ma Weiming.

China's electromagnetic catapult has been installed on its third aircraft carrier, the aircraft carrier Fujian. [19] [20]

Russia

Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is developing new launch systems for warplanes based on aircraft carriers, USC President Alexei Rakhmanov told TASS on 4 July 2018. [21]

United States

General Atomics EMALS was designed for and into the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. [22] A proposal to retrofit it into Nimitz-class carriers was rejected. John Schank said: "The biggest problems facing the Nimitz class are the limited electrical power generation capability and the upgrade-driven increase in ship weight and erosion of the center-of-gravity margin needed to maintain ship stability." [23]

India

In 2013, the Indian Navy reportedly sought to equip the aircraft carrier with electromagnetic catapult, which could enable the launching of larger aircraft as well as unmanned combat aerial vehicles. [24] Though, it was initially planned to be imported from foreign firms for INS Vishal, reports as of 2024 suggests, it is being developed indigenously by Bharat Electronics with assistance from private sector companies. The system concept has been demonstrated to senior Indian Navy officials and Minister of Defence. The Navy plans to gain clearance for construction of ground-based full scale model to initiate development. [25]

As per August 2024 media report, Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) has developed a scaled-down prototype capable of launching payloads up to 400 kg over a short span of 16 to 18 meters. For further development and to scale up for usage on future aircraft carriers, they are currently searching for industry partners. Platforms weighing up to 40-tons can be handled by the system. Two crucial technologies that have been successfully developed for electromagnetic catapult are Pulse Power, which controls the electromagnetic catapult's power requirements and ensures precise and dependable launches, and Linear Electric Machine, which produces the electromagnetic force required to launch aircraft. [26] [27] [28] [29]

Ships with electromagnetic catapult

United States

Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier (in service) [30]

China

Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian [30] (undergoing sea trials)

Type 076 landing helicopter dock (planned) [31]

Type 004 aircraft carrier (planned)

France

Future French aircraft carrier (planned)

Russia

Project 23000 (proposed)

India

INS Vishal (proposed)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft carrier</span> Warship that serves as a seagoing airbase

An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a naval force to project seaborne air power far from homeland without depending on local airfields for staging aircraft operations. Since their inception in the early 20th century, aircraft carriers have evolved from wooden vessels used to deploy individual tethered reconnaissance balloons, to nuclear-powered supercarriers that carry dozens of fighters, strike aircraft, military helicopters, AEW&Cs and other types of aircraft such as UCAVs. While heavier fixed-wing aircraft such as airlifters, gunships and bombers have been launched from aircraft carriers, these aircraft have not landed on a carrier due to flight deck limitations.

<i>Nimitz</i>-class aircraft carrier US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier class

The Nimitz class is a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. The lead ship of the class is named after World War II United States Pacific Fleet commander Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who was the last living U.S. Navy officer to hold the rank. With an overall length of 1,092 ft (333 m) and a full-load displacement of over 100,000 long tons (100,000 t), the Nimitz-class ships were the largest warships built and in service until USS Gerald R. Ford entered the fleet in 2017.

<i>Gerald R. Ford</i>-class aircraft carrier Class of supercarriers for the U.S. Navy

The Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are currently being constructed for the United States Navy, which intends to eventually acquire ten of these ships in order to replace current carriers on a one-for-one basis, starting with the lead ship of her class, Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), replacing Enterprise (CVN-65), and later the Nimitz-class carriers. The new vessels have a hull similar to the Nimitz class, but they carry technologies since developed with the CVN(X)/CVN-21 program, such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), as well as other design features intended to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, including sailing with smaller crews. This class of aircraft carriers is named after former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford. CVN-78 was procured in 2008 and commissioned into service on 22 July 2017. The second ship of the class, John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), is scheduled to enter service in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STOBAR</span> Aircraft carrier launch and recovery system

STOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of "short take-off and vertical landing" (STOVL) with "catapult-assisted take-off, barrier-arrested recovery" (CATOBAR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft catapult</span> Device used to launch aircraft from ships

An aircraft catapult is a device used to help fixed-wing aircraft gain enough airspeed and lift for takeoff from a limited distance, typically from the deck of a ship. They are usually used on aircraft carrier flight decks as a form of assisted takeoff, but can also be installed on land-based runways, although this is rare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A1B reactor</span> U.S. Navy aircraft carrier nuclear reactor

The A1B reactor is developed by the United States Navy for the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Each ship will be powered by two A1B reactors. The new reactor was named A1B, following the Navy's reactor-designation scheme of type, generation, and manufacturer: A for aircraft carrier, 1 for the maker's first reactor plant design, and B for Bechtel, the company making the reactor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System</span> Aircraft launching system developed for the US Navy

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a type of electromagnetic catapult system developed by General Atomics for the United States Navy. The system launches carrier-based aircraft by means of a catapult employing a linear induction motor rather than the conventional steam piston, providing greater precision and faster recharge compared to steam. EMALS was first installed on the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, c. 2015.

USS <i>Gerald R. Ford</i> Gerald R. Ford–class aircraft carrier

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. The ship is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, whose World War II naval service included combat duty aboard the light aircraft carrier Monterey in the Pacific Theater.

USS <i>John F. Kennedy</i> (CVN-79) Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier

USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is the second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy. She was launched on 29 October 2019, and christened on 7 December 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CATOBAR</span> Carrier centric aircraft launch-recovery system

CATOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Under this technique, aircraft launch using a catapult-assisted take-off and land on the ship using arrestor wires.

As of 2024, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has two active carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, with the third, Fujian, currently undergoing sea trials. A fourth carrier, currently called "Type 004" and featuring nuclear propulsion, might be under construction. Wang Yunfei, a retired PLA Navy officer and other naval experts projected in 2018/2019 that China might possess five or six aircraft carriers by the 2030s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier-based aircraft</span> Military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers

A carrier-based aircraft is a naval aircraft designed for operations from aircraft carriers. Carrier-based aircraft must be able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy enough to withstand the abrupt forces of launching from and recovering on a pitching deck. In addition, their wings are generally able to fold up, easing operations in tight quarters.

INS Vishal, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 3 (IAC-3), is a planned aircraft carrier to be built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy. It is intended to be the third aircraft carrier to be built in India after INS Vikrant (IAC-1) and another Vikrant-class aircraft carrier, provisionally called (IAC-2). The proposed design of this class will be a new design, featuring significant changes from Vikrant, including an increase in size and displacement. An Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) CATOBAR system is also under consideration. Its name Vishal means 'Gargantuan' in Sanskrit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced Arresting Gear</span> Aircraft arresting system

The Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) is a type of arresting gear developed by General Atomics for the U.S. Navy's newest Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. It was deployed in 2017 on the lead ship of the class, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).

Chinese aircraft carrier <i>Fujian</i> Chinese aircraft carrier

Fujian, named after Fujian province, is a Chinese aircraft carrier serving in the People's Liberation Army Navy. It is the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese aircraft carrier programme and the first of the Type 003 class. It succeeds the Type 002 Shandong which is described as a modified Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier. It is China's first indigenously designed carrier, and its first capable of catapult-assisted take-offs (CATOBAR); previous Chinese carriers used ski-jumps (STOBAR).

Ma Weiming is a Chinese electrical engineer. He is a professor of the PLA Naval University of Engineering. He is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and holds the military rank of rear admiral. He led the development of the electromagnetic catapult system for the Type 003 aircraft carrier and the development of electromagnetic railguns. In 2017, he was awarded the August 1 Medal, the highest honor of the People's Liberation Army.

The Type 076 landing helicopter dock is a planned class of drone-carrying amphibious assault ship for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Compared to the Type 075, the Type 076 will be significantly larger in both displacement and flight deck dimensions; it will also have a CATOBAR system of electromagnetic catapult and arresting gears for operating light fixed-wing aircraft, likely unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV).

References

  1. ↑ Schank, John. Modernizing the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Fleet, p. 80.
  2. ↑ Doyle, Michael, Douglas Samuel, Thomas Conway, and Robert Klimowski. "Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System – EMALS". Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst. 1 March. p. 1.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Michael, "Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System – EMALS". p. 1.
  4. ↑ PEO Carriers Public Affairs (15 May 2015). "Navy Announces Successful Test of Electromagnetic Catapult on CVN 78". US Navy.
  5. ↑ "New Ford-class aircraft carrier: 25 percent more flights per day". The Christian Science Monitor . 9 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
  6. 1 2 "EMALS: Learning to Launch". New England Wire. 4 May 2020.
  7. ↑ Schweber, Bill (11 April 2002). "How It Works". EDN Magazine. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Excell, Jon (30 October 2013). "October 1946 – Westinghouse unveils the Electropult". The Engineer. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Gady, Franz-Stefan (6 November 2017). "China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System". The Diplomat.
  10. ↑ Yeo, Mike (9 November 2017). "China claims breakthrough in electromagnetic launch system for aircraft carrier". Defense News.
  11. ↑ Rohacs, Daniel; Voskuijl, Mark; Rohacs, Jozsef; Schoustra, Rommert-Jan (2013). "Preliminary evaluation of the environmental impact related to aircraft take-off and landings supported with ground based (MAGLEV) power". Journal of Aerospace Operations. 2 (3–4): 161–180. doi:10.3233/AOP-140040.
  12. ↑ "Chinese aircraft carrier should narrow the gap with its U.S. counterpart". english.peopledaily.com.cn. People's Daily. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "简氏:中国试飞改进型歼-15 或用于测试电磁弹射器_《参考消息》官方网站". Cankaoxiaoxi.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "China's Third Aircraft Carrier will be First to use Steam Catapults to Launch Aircraft". yibada. 12 February 2017.
  15. ↑ "China Explores Electromagnetic Carrier Launch System". AIN online. 6 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China's second home-grown aircraft carrier". SCMP. 1 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System". The Diplomat. 1 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "China claims to have developed conventionally powered electromagnetic catapult". Jane's 360. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  19. ↑ Sutton, H. I. (15 April 2021). "China's New Aircraft Carrier Is In Same League as US Navy's Ford Class". Naval News. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  20. ↑ 布藍 (3 August 2020). "【國產航母】003型航母進入最後組裝進程 高清航拍照曝光". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "Russia developing new launch catapults for aircraft carriers". TASS. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Carrier Launch System Passes Initial Tests". Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  23. ↑ Schank, John. Modernizing the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Fleet: Accelerating CVN 21 Production Versus Mid-Life Refueling. Santa Monica: Rand Corporation, 2005. p. 76.
  24. ↑ "Indian Navy seeks EMALS system for second Vikrant-class aircraft carrier". Naval Technology. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "India Seeks Indigenous Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System for Upcoming IAC-III Carrier". India Defence. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "DRDO Nears EMALS Breakthrough for Mach 6 Aircraft Launches, Seeks Industry Partner for Further Development". Defence.in. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  27. ↑ Singh, Aarav (24 August 2024). "India's EMALS Breakthrough: DRDO and HAL Push the Boundaries of Naval Aviation Technology". PUNE.NEWS. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  28. ↑ Prasad, Manish (23 August 2024). "Electromagnetic Launch System". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  29. ↑ Navy, Indian (21 February 2024). "Maritime Technical Exposition 2024" . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  30. 1 2 Zhao, Suisheng (2024). "Is Beijing's Long Game on Taiwan about to End? Peaceful Unification, Brinksmanship, and Military Takeover". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. p. 18. doi:10.4324/9781003521709. ISBN   9781032861661.
  31. ↑ Joe, Rick. "Whispers of 076, China's Drone Carrying Assault Carrier". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.