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Electromagnetic catapult
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==History== Developed in the 1950s, [[Aircraft catapult#Steam catapult|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.<ref>Schank, John. ''Modernizing the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Fleet'', p. 80.</ref> These have, however, several drawbacks. One group of Navy engineers wrote: "The foremost deficiency is that the catapult operates without [[Control theory|feedback control]]. With no feedback, there often occurs large [[Transient (oscillation)|transients]] in tow forces that can damage or reduce the life of the airframe."<ref>Doyle, Michael, Douglas Samuel, Thomas Conway, and Robert Klimowski. "Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System β EMALS". Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst. 1 March. p. 1.</ref> The steam system is massive, inefficient (4β6%),<ref>Doyle, Michael, "Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System β EMALS". p. 1.</ref> and hard to control. These control problems allow {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|2}} steam-powered catapults to launch heavy aircraft, but not aircraft as light as many [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s. [[General Atomics]] Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) developed the first operational modern electromagnetic catapult,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/SavedNewsModule/Article/588870/navy-announces-successful-test-of-electromagnetic-catapult-on-cvn-78/ |title= Navy Announces Successful Test of Electromagnetic Catapult on CVN 78|website=US Navy |date=15 May 2015 |author= PEO Carriers Public Affairs}}</ref> named Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), for the [[United States Navy]]. The system was installed on [[USS Gerald R. Ford|USS ''Gerald R. Ford'']] aircraft carrier, replacing traditional [[steam catapult]]s. 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Ford-class aircraft carrier: 25 percent more flights per day|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1109/USS-Gerald-R.-Ford-New-aircraft-carrier-with-25-percent-more-flights-per-day|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=9 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109201309/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1109/USS-Gerald-R.-Ford-New-aircraft-carrier-with-25-percent-more-flights-per-day|archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name="new_emals">{{cite web|url=https://www.newenglandwire.com/application/emals-learning-to-launch/ |title=EMALS: Learning to Launch |website=New England Wire |date=4 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name=howitworks>{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Schweber |title=How It Works |url=http://www.edn.com/Pdf/ViewPdf?contentItemId=4341471 |publisher=EDN Magazine |date=11 April 2002 |access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> A system somewhat similar to EMALS, [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]]'s ''electropult'', was developed in 1946 but not deployed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Excell |first=Jon |url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/archive/october-1946-westinghouse-unveils-the-electropult/1017387.article |title=October 1946 β Westinghouse unveils the Electropult |publisher=The Engineer |date=30 October 2013 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-date=7 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907164018/http://www.theengineer.co.uk/archive/october-1946-westinghouse-unveils-the-electropult/1017387.article |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/11/chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-to-use-advanced-jet-launch-system/ |title=China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System |website=The Diplomat |date=6 November 2017 |first=Franz-Stefan |last=Gady}}</ref> instead of the alternating current catapult system that United States developed.<ref name="new_emals" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2017/11/09/tech-breakthrough-chinas-next-carrier-could-feature-electromagnetic-launch-system/ |title=China claims breakthrough in electromagnetic launch system for aircraft carrier |website=Defense News |date=9 November 2017 |first=Mike |last=Yeo }}</ref>
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