China launches drones using an electromagnetic catapult

©picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap

China has publicly unveiled a mobile electromagnetic catapult that launches a drone for the first time. Footage on Chinese social media shows how a system of three linked trucks propels an unmanned aircraft into the air using electromagnetic acceleration.

This is a land-based version of EMALS, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System used on aircraft carriers. According to specialized media, the system had been spotted before — including aboard the ship Zhong Da 79— but this is the first time it has been filmed in operation.

The video shows how the trucks first drive separately in a convoy and then link up to form a single long launch ramp. Protective panels are mounted on top of the vehicles, presumably to shield the system during transport. It's notable that the trucks can steer their wheels fully, allowing the entire formation to turn almost on the spot. This makes it possible to quickly orient the launch rail into the wind, which is essential for a mobile launch system.

Military advantage

According to the information provided, the Chinese variant is said to have a modular design, with segments that together form a rail approximately 20 to 60 meters long. This allows the system to be adapted for heavier drones or other aircraft, as long as the configuration is long enough. An electromagnetic system also has advantages over a steam catapult. After all, it allows for more precise adjustments, the recovery time between two launches is shorter, and air operations can follow one another more quickly.

Strategic scope

For the Chinese military, this fits into a broader strategy of mobility and camouflage. If such a system can be disassembled or transported in containers, it becomes more difficult to detect or neutralize. This makes the technology particularly relevant in areas such as the South China Sea and along the border with India, where fixed runways are scarce or vulnerable. A mobile launch system can quickly bring airpower closer to the area of operations in those regions. According to the sources, the development is the work of several Chinese institutions, including the Beijing Institute of Technology and major defense companies.

©picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap