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.