Electromagnetic aircraft launch system-EMALS

With the proliferation of electromagnetic launch systems presently being designed, built, or studied, there appears to be no limit to their application. One of the intriguing applications is electromagnetically catapulting aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The US Navy had foreseen the substantial capabilities of an electromagnetic catapult in the 1940s and built a prototype. However, it was not until the recent technical advances in the areas of pulsed power, power conditioning, energy storage devices, and controls gave credence to a fieldable electromagnetic aircraft launch system. This paper presents the U.S. Navy´s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) being developed in partnership with Kaman Electromagnetics (Hudson, MA). It addresses the EMALS´s present design and the technologies involved, as well as the ship and operational impacts, advantages, disadvantages, and compatibility issues for today´s and tomorrow´s carriers.<>