Understanding Carrier Launch Systems and Why the President Wants to Change Them

Carrier aviation depends on either STOBAR, which uses a 12-14° ski-jump ramp for aircraft to launch under full thrust, or CATOBAR, where a catapult attached to the nose gear accelerates the plane. STOBAR is favored by navies lacking mature catapult technology, such as China’s Liaoning and Shandong, Russia’s former Admiral Kuznetsov, and India’s Vikramaditya, but it limits fuel and weapon loads. CATOBAR, employed by U.S. Nimitz- and Ford-class carriers and France’s Charles de Gaulle, allows heavier aircraft to take off but requires complex, power-intensive systems.

The U.S. replaced steam catapults with electromagnetic EMALS, yet repeated mechanical issues on the USS Gerald R. Ford have drawn criticism, leading President Donald Trump to propose reinstating steam catapults for future ships. Other nations are moving toward CATOBAR, with China’s Fujian and India’s planned INS Vishal expected to use catapults. The article highlights the trade-offs between simplicity, cost, and operational capability in carrier launch technology.