EMALS

EMALS, or Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, is a shipboard aircraft launch system used by the United States Navy to accelerate airplanes to takeoff speed for catapult-assisted launches. It replaces traditional steam-powered catapults on Ford-class aircraft carriers and offers programmable control of launch force and acceleration through a linear electric motor.

The system uses a linear induction motor along a launch track. Electrical energy from the ship’s power system is converted and delivered to the motor via a Power and Thermal Management System and energy storage modules. The launch force can be varied in real time to match aircraft type, weight, and environmental conditions, providing a smoother acceleration profile that reduces peak stresses on airframes and launch gear. EMALS is designed to accommodate a wider range of aircraft, including heavier fixed-wing platforms and unmanned aircraft, with improved reliability and reduced maintenance compared with steam systems.

Development and deployment: EMALS was developed for the U.S. Navy as part of the Ford-class program, with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems involved in design and integration. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), was equipped with EMALS during delivery and subsequent carriers in the class have incorporated the system. The program has included extensive land-based and at-sea testing to validate performance, safety, and compatibility with ship power systems.

Compared with steam catapults, EMALS offers smoother launches, greater control over launch parameters, and potential reductions in maintenance needs, but it also carries higher initial complexity and cost.