MUGEM should have EMALS
MUGEM bigger than it seems...Landing runway length almost similar as US supercarriers...Maybe it can operate KAAN like big birds with EMALS
Until we can have carrier with EMALS..We should buy F-35B for our LHDs
We all have aspirations for better and more powerful weapons. But there are limits to what we can afford and what we can technically manufacture.
Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launch System is a very expensive system. Even more expensive is to develop it. That is why the French are contemplating purchasing the US system at a price of 1.321 billion dollars. (See below US govt document)
Apart from USA and China no other country have immediate access to this technology. India is working towards attaining it.
Developing it may take longer than we can envisage. Spain, Italy and Thailand use V/STOL planes on their carriers. UK carriers have redundant parallel runway with all catapult system ready to be installed, should the need arise. But in the meantime they operate F35B Vertical take off and landing capable planes. Russians have one STOBAR ski lift carrier that is still not operational. Indians operate STOBAR system on their carriers. Japan has a number of Helicopter Dock Destroyers that will operate F35Bs as well.
Most economical and convenient system, if conventional aircraft’s are to be used, is the STOBAR with a ski lift take off. But it may restrict your operating weight for the planes, to narrow tolerances. EMALS gives you more widespread use; But at a price. And re:
@Zoth ’s post, Nuclear power is not a prerequisite. Chinese Navy Ship Fujian is claimed to be able to generate enough energy without the need for nuclear power for it’s EMALS.
www.dsca.mil