CATOBAR
CATOBAR (acronym for catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery[1] or catapult-assisted take-off, barrier arrested recovery[2]) is a naval aviation system used for the takeoff and landing of fixed-wing aircraft from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Under the CATOBAR system, carrier-based aircraft are launched via assisted take-off with additional acceleration from an aircraft catapult, and land on the ship (the recovery phase) with assisted deceleration from an arresting gear.
Although the CATOBAR system is costlier and more technologically complex than alternative launch and recovery methods, it provides greater flexibility in carrier operations, since it imposes less onerous design requirements on fixed-wing aircraft than alternative methods such as STOVL or STOBAR, allowing for a greater maximum takeoff weight and thus more payload for ordnance and/or fuel. CATOBAR systems enable jet aircraft (which are much heavier than the propeller-powered naval fighters used during the Second World War) to be launched from only half of the carrier's deck length (leaving the aft-half as an angled flight deck dedicated to landing), and can launch heavy propeller aircraft that lack a high thrust-to-weight ratio such as the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound.[3][4][5]
Types
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The catapult system in use in most CATOBAR carriers is the steam catapult. Its primary advantage is the amount of power and control it can provide. During World War II, the US Navy used a hydraulic catapult.
The United States and China have developed electromagnetic catapults that use a linear motor drive instead of steam. The electromagnetic catapult is found on the American Gerald R. Ford-class carriers (the electromagnetic aircraft launch system),[6] the Chinese carrier Fujian and Type 076 class amphibious assault ships.
Current users
Since Brazil decommissioned NAe São Paulo in February 2017, only three states operate carriers that use the CATOBAR system: the U.S. with its Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class, France with its Charles De Gaulle, and China with its Type-003 Fujian.
Active CATOBAR aircraft carrier classes
| Class | Picture | Origin | No. of ships | Propulsion | Displacement | Operator | Aircraft carried | Catapult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimitz | File:USS Nimitz (CVN-68).jpg | United States | 10 | Nuclear | 100,020 t (220,510,000 lb) | F/A-18C Hornet F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35C Lightning II EA-18G Growler C-2 Greyhound E-2C/D Hawkeye |
C-13-1 or C-13-2 steam | |
| Gerald R. Ford | File:USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk on 14 April 2017.JPG | United States | 1 | Nuclear | 100,000 t (220,000,000 lb) | United States Navy | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35C Lightning II EA-18G Growler E-2D Hawkeye |
EMALS |
| Charles de Gaulle | File:Charles De Gaulle (R91) underway 2009.jpg | France | 1 | Nuclear | 42,500 t (93,700,000 lb) | French Navy | Rafale M E-2C Hawkeye |
C-13-3 steam |
| Fujian/Type 003 | File:PLAN CV-18 Fujian 20250911.jpg | China | 1 | Conventional | 80,000+ t | People's Liberation Army Navy | Shenyang J-15 Shenyang J-35 Xi'an KJ-600 Harbin Z-20 |
EM catapult[7] |
CATOBAR carriers under construction
| Class | Picture | Origin | No. of ships | Propulsion | Displacement | Operator | Aircraft carried | Catapult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald R. Ford | United States | 3 | Nuclear | 100,000 t | United States Navy | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35C Lightning II EA-18G Growler E-2D Hawkeye |
EMALS | |
| Type 076 | China | 1 | Conventional | 48,000 t | People's Liberation Army Navy | Hongdu GJ-11 | EM catapult | |
| PANG | France | 1 | Nuclear | 75,000 t | French Navy | Dassault Rafale M or FCAS | EMALS | |
| Type 004 | China | 1 | Nuclear | 110,000 t | People's Liberation Army Navy | Shenyang J-15 or Shenyang J-35 Xi'an KJ-600 |
EM catapult |
CATOBAR carriers planned
| Class | Picture | Origin | No. of ships | Propulsion | Displacement | Operator | Aircraft carried | Catapult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald R. Ford | United States | 2 | Nuclear | 100,000 t | United States Navy | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35C Lightning II EA-18G Growler E-2D Hawkeye |
EMALS | |
| INS Vishal |
India | 1 | Integrated electric propulsion | 65,000+ t | Indian Navy | HAL TEDBF
Dassault Rafale M HAL Tejas Naval Variant (Planned) |
EM Catapult |
List of CATOBAR aircraft
- F/A-18E/F – only operated by the US Navy.
- EA-18G – only operated by the US Navy.
- C-2A – only operated by the US Navy.
- F/A-18 – only operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps.
- Rafale M – only operated by the French Navy.
- E-2C/D – only active with the US Navy and the French Navy.
- F-35C – only operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps.
- Shenyang J-35 - only operated by the PLAN.
- J-15T - only operated by the PLAN.
- KJ-600 - only operated by PLAN.
Potential users
The Chinese Fujian (Type 003) has an integrated electric propulsion system that will allow the operation of electromagnetic catapults, similar to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) used by the United States Navy.[8][9]
INS Vishal, India's second indigenous aircraft carrier of the Vikrant-class, is planned to displace 65,000 tons and to use the EMALS catapults developed by General Atomics, as it supports heavier fighters, AEW aircraft, and UCAVs that cannot launch using STOBAR ski jump ramps.[10]
Under Project Ark Royal, the Royal Navy plans to install catapults and arrestor equipment on its two STOVL-configured Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:WPSHIPS utilities/data' not found.s to launch and recover combat drones that are being procured under Project Vixen.[11]
The Turkish defence industry is developing an indigenous catapult system to replace the ski jumps on its MUGEM-class aircraft carrier.[12]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.RICHARD SCOTT (June 8, 2023), "U.K. Considering Adding Catapults, Arresting Gear to Aircraft Carriers", USNI News
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.DZIRHAN MAHADZIR (May 1, 2024), "Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian Leaves for First Set of Sea Trials", USNI News
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How Effective Will China's Carrier-Based Fighters Be?". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."US-India Collaboration on Aircraft Carriers: A Good Idea?". Archived from the original on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Indian Navy seeks EMALS system for second Vikrant-class aircraft carrier". 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Gerald R Ford Class (CVN 78/79)". naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."新航母不用核动力就能电弹 靠这套领先全球的技术|航母_新浪军事_新浪网". mil.news.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Minnie Chan (1 November 2017). "Breakthrough to Power most Advanced Jet Launch System on China's second Home-grown Aircraft Carrier". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."China Claims to have Developed Conventionally Powered Electromagnetic Catapult" (archived copy ed.). Archived from the original on 2017-11-11. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Indian Navy seeks EMALS system for second Vikrant-class aircraft carrier". 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Allison, George (18 November 2023). "Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Turkish Navy Unveils MUGEM: A Fully Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". Naval News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
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