Images shared on Chinese social media have shown what many theorize to be an electromagnetic catapult mounted on a truck.
Drone footage was taken at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai and started circulating on Chinese internet last week, according to a report from The War Zone.
While the drones appear to be covered in the images, it’s still possible to get a sense of the overall design of the project. The forward landing gear, with clearly visible bars, clearly indicates that the aircraft was designed for catapult launches.
However, an even more interesting detail is that the new photos from the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard show at least three eight-wheel trucks that appear to be designed to lock perfectly into a chain.
From the images, we can see that one of the drones is loaded on the back of one of the trucks, with its nose gear locked into what appears to be a catapult.
In addition to the cabins at the front, the sides of the trucks are largely open, allowing for a look at the elaborate electrical systems with their large amounts of exposed wiring.
We can also see a cylindrical drum above each wheel, which could be part of an independent articulated suspension system capable of self-leveling.
With this in mind, there’s potential that these trucks could be part of a mobile land-based electromagnetic catapult system, according to TWZ, a theory supported by the cylinders and the wiring.
At the same time, they could just be transporters, though the design seems much more elaborate than would be necessary for that sole purpose. There’s also the possibility that the trucks were designed to serve both functions.
In any case, the idea of using a catapult launch system similar to aircraft carriers on land is not new. Both China and the United States have built land-based steam and electromagnetic catapults for testing, evaluation, and training purposes.
One of the main benefits of electromagnetic catapults over steam-powered ones is generally their ability to be more adjustable in terms of the forces they exert on any aircraft during launch.
This is a capability that could be particularly valuable in expeditionary scenarios or other contexts where access to traditional runways is limited, something highly relevant to Chinese military scenarios.
A mobile system would also offer a new way to push at least a certain level of airpower closer to the front lines and help keep it nearby where it could be more responsive, even as battlefield dimensions evolve.
Another general benefit of electromagnetic catapults is the reduced restart time. It’s possible that a truck pre-loaded with a drone could drive, lock into the back of the runway, launch, and then pull away to clear the way for the next, offering additional benefits when it comes to operational pace.
But it’s important to emphasize that the capabilities of a modular system would also depend on its exact configuration, including the overall length of the catapult runway, information that hasn’t yet been disclosed regarding this particular system.
Either way, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) seems particularly interested in systems suited for Pacific operations, where a land-based electromagnetic catapult system could be particularly relevant.
For now, all we have are details shared by Chinese observers. However, Chinese authorities don’t seem to have taken any special steps to hide the recent appearance of the drones or the trucks. Therefore, it’s expected that we will learn more about both systems soon.
Photos: Reproduction. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
