Navy to use U.S. aircraft launch system in ship:

Navy to use U.S. aircraft launch system in ship:

Context:

• The Navy is likely to go with an advanced catapult-based aircraft launch mechanism (CATOBAR) from the U.S. for its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II).
• India has been exploring the possibility of installing the U.S. electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).

What are the significance of EMALS?

• While the older generation of CATOBAR was powered by a steam catapult, EMALS uses an electric motor-driven catapult instead, which allows the launch of much heavier aircraft and also reduces the stress on the aircraft.
• EMALS will allow  to operate heavy surveillance aircraft in addition to heavy fighters.

What is the significance of IAC-II?

• The Navy envisages the IAC-II to be around 65,000 tonnes.
• It will be capable of carrying over 50 aircraft.
• The Navy is also keen on nuclear propulsion, which would give it unlimited range and endurance

CATOBAR:

• CATOBAR(Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery or Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery) 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.

It’s significance:

• It provides greater flexibility in carrier operations, since it imposes less onerous design elements on fixed wing aircraft than alternative methods of launch and recovery such as STOVL or STOBAR, allowing for a greater payload for more ordinance and/or fuel.
• CATOBAR can launch aircraft that lack a high thrust to weight ratio, including heavier non-fighter aircraft such as the E-2 Hawkeye and Grumman C-2 Greyhound.