Electrocatapult sent the fighter into the air
According to CNews.ru, the first successful tests of the EMALS electromagnetic catapult took place, as part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The first test flight of the F-35C fighter, launched with the help of this promising ejection installation, took place on November 18.
The fifth-generation fighter F-35C is a deck version designed for use on aircraft carriers. The main differences of this version are: the presence of larger wings and an increased tail area. That, coupled with the airframe and the chassis of the reinforced design, allows you to withstand heavy loads and maneuver at low speeds during takeoffs and landings from ships. The payload mass of the aircraft can be up to eight tons. If necessary, it is possible to place different on the underwing pylons. weapon, in particular the gun GAU-22A caliber 25 mm.
Earlier, steam catapults were used to launch these aircraft into the air. But these devices are extremely complex and dangerous to operate. In addition, they have almost reached the ceiling capacity and can transfer up to 95 MJ of energy. Now it is planned to replace them with an EMALS electromagnetic catapult, which surpasses the steam one in all respects. The transmitted energy can reach 122 MJ, which provides the catapult with the ability to launch into the air airplanes with a larger mass at low overloads for the pilot. Acceleration in new catapults on 29% more. The use of the capabilities of the nuclear power plant of an aircraft carrier allows for a third to reduce the staff.
It was originally planned that the single-engine F-35 will become a mass combat unit, the main feature of which will be a rather low production cost. However, in the development process, the planned costs almost came close to the cost of the “heavy” competitor F-22. In connection with this, talk has already begun about a possible curtailment of the program or a decrease in its funding.
The first launch of the finished prototype F-35С using the EMALS catapult took place on board the USS Wasp, the assault ship, just a month after the sensational presentation of the F-35B presentation. According to the developers, at the moment they are ahead of the planned schedule by about a month.
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