CATOBAR

Flight deck of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, showing catapult layout

Catapult launches aboard USS Ronald Reagan

CATOBAR (catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery^[1] or catapult-assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery^[2]) is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Under this technique, aircraft launch using a catapult-assisted take-off and land on the ship (the recovery phase) using arrestor wires.

Although this system is costlier than alternative methods, it provides greater flexibility in carrier operations, since it imposes less onerous design requirements on fixed-wing aircraft than alternative methods of launch and recovery such as STOVL or STOBAR, allowing for a greater payload for more ordnance and/or fuel. CATOBAR can launch aircraft that lack a high thrust-to-weight ratio, including heavier non-fighter aircraft such as the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound.^[3][4][5]

Types

Main article: Aircraft catapult

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		United States	10	Nuclear	100,020 t (220,510,000 lb)	United States Navy	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		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		France	1	Nuclear	42,500 t (93,700,000 lb)	French Navy	Rafale M E-2C Hawkeye	C-13-3 steam

CATOBAR carriers under construction

Class	Picture	Origin	No. of ships	Propulsion	Displacement	Operator	Aircraft carried	Catapult
Fujian (Type 003)		China	1	Conventional	08000 80,000+ t	People's Liberation Army Navy	Shenyang J-15 Shenyang J-35 Xi'an KJ-600 Harbin Z-20	EM catapult[7]
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
INS Vishal		India	1	Integrated electric propulsion	08000 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 Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers 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

• List of all aircraft carriers

References

1. RICHARD SCOTT (June 8, 2023), "U.K. Considering Adding Catapults, Arresting Gear to Aircraft Carriers", USNI News
2. DZIRHAN MAHADZIR (May 1, 2024), "Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian Leaves for First Set of Sea Trials", USNI News
3. "How Effective Will China's Carrier-Based Fighters Be?". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
4. "US-India Collaboration on Aircraft Carriers: A Good Idea?". Archived from the original on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
5. "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.
6. "Gerald R Ford Class (CVN 78/79)". naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
7. "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.
8. 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.
9. "China Claims to have Developed Conventionally Powered Electromagnetic Catapult" (archived copy ed.). Archived from the original on 2017-11-11. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
10. "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.
11. Allison, George (18 November 2023). "Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
12. "Turkish Navy Unveils MUGEM: A Fully Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". Naval News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.