Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
OverviewDesign and developmentDelivery and deploymentAdvantagesCriticismsOperatorsOther developmentSee alsoDeveloped in the 1950s, steam catapults have proven exceptionally reliable. Carriers equipped with four steam catapults have been able to use at least one of them 99.5% of the time. However, there are a number of drawbacks. One group of Navy engineers wrote: "The foremost deficiency is that the catapult operates without feedback control. With no feedback, there often occurs large transients