This New EV-Based Catapult By China Can Fire A 30-Ton Plane In 2.1 Seconds

In the field of defense technology, China’s recently developed Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is creating waves. Using technology inspired by electric automobiles, Chinese researchers are said to have created a potent catapult that can launch a 30-ton plane in just 2.1 seconds.

This innovative method could completely change aircraft carrier technology. It was created by a group of scientists and engineers in Beijing under the direction of Associate Professor Ye Lezhi. This revolutionary technology has a small footprint, a straightforward construction, and a lightweight design in contrast to conventional EMALS, which need lengthy tracks and several electromagnetic coils for continuous acceleration. Because it doesn’t need a complicated power supply system, it is more economical and efficient.

Military specialists are intrigued and excited about this novel technology that was revealed in a peer-reviewed research that was published in the Chinese academic journal Acta Armamentarii on February 27. With just 328 feet (100 meters) of runway, the new EMALS can launch huge fixed-wing aircraft into the sky, as demonstrated by testing and successful completion of its feasibility.

The United States, a leader in EMALS technology, has had problems with the efficiency and dependability of its catapult systems. China’s new EMALS system, on the other hand, would provide a more dependable and effective substitute, possibly providing the Chinese Navy with a sizable edge in naval combat.

This new EMALS system’s utilization of electric vehicle technology is one of its primary characteristics. This method works on a similar concept, using torque motors to accelerate more quickly and store energy generated by braking. An eddy current clutch creates electromagnetic force to connect the flywheel to a winding wheel, which pulls the catapult shuttle through a steel wire and accelerates the plane for takeoff. A strong motor accelerates a large flywheel to revolve swiftly before catapulting.

All things considered, China’s new EMALS system is a major development in catapult technology that could change the course of naval aviation and combat in the future.