Initiative for aircraft launch using electro magnetic technology
Initiative for aircraft launch using electro magnetic technology
The next generation of military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and manned aircraft launch technology is being developed by Converteam Ltd in Rugby, in a project valued at e3.64 (£2.6 million).
This new development contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence as part of its above water effects research programme will prove a new launch system based on Electro-Magnetic Kinetic Integrated Technology (EMKIT).
Converteam's Senior Vice-President, Prosanto Das-Gupta explained that “the EMKIT project will be the first Electro-Magnetic launcher of its type in the UK and will demonstrate the capability of this technology to launch a range of UAV's and manned aircraft from both land and sea.”
The EMKIT project covers the design, build and testing of a high- speed,high-acceleration demonstrator. The test programme will include dynamic acceleration and stopping tests on a range of test masses at various speeds,within a short launch length, in order to demonstrate the flexibility and scalability of the technology and ultimately deliver a significantly increased launch capability, compared with existing assisted aircraft launch methods.
