US Navy testing electromagnetic catapult on aircraft carrier

by
in hardware on (#64A2)
story imageFor almost as long as aircraft carriers have existed, they've been equipped with steam-powered catapults to help fighters and bombers get airborne. That's a remarkably old-fashioned technology when you're launching stealth fighters that cost upwards of $20 million each. Aircraft carriers are gigantic, but the runways simply aren't long enough for most planes to generate sufficient lift under their own power.

The US Navy is now testing a replacement system called the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) aboard the new USS Gerald R. Ford. It works by using an electric current to generate magnetic fields that propel a carriage down the track built into the runway, launching planes much more smoothly and efficiently than the old steam catapults with improved reliability. A steam catapult takes up a great deal of space and weigh in excess of 1,300 pounds. These systems take a long time to recharge after each launch, and the launch itself is rather abrupt. There's no smooth acceleration with a steam piston, resulting in increase wear on the body of the aircraft. Steam catapults also use more power than the EMALS system.

Re: 20 million for a stealth fighter? (Score: 1)

by kwerle@pipedot.org on 2015-03-31 14:47 (#6558)

Yeah, all the numbers in the article seem pretty bunk. The steam catapult weighs 1300 pounds? I don't think so. 20 seconds and wikipedia:
Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System: System weight< 225,000 kg

Steam catapult: "These systems take a long time to recharge after each launch"
Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System: Cycle time 45 seconds

How long does it take to get the next jet into position?

The combination of wikipedia and file:///tmp/Electronics-poised-to-replace-steam-powered-aircraft-launch-system.pdf (from '02) add up to a much better article than the one linked.
Post Comment
Subject
Comment
Captcha
Underpants, finger and thumb: how many body parts in the list?