Despite the trouble thrown in the middle of the summer by Donald Trump, the three American electromagnetic catapults of the future France Libre aircraft carrier have indeed recently been ordered.
The American president had in fact declared in mid-August that he wanted to return, for the future aircraft carriers of the American army, to old models of steam catapults, technology which he described as “more reliable”. Which could threaten the future of electromagnetic technology, also called Emals (ElectroMagnetic Aircraft Launch System), and consequently the catapults of Free France.
20 Minutes takes stock of the issues surrounding these electromagnetic catapults, the cost of which - around 1.2 billion euros - will represent around 10% of the total cost of the aircraft carrier, estimated between 10 and 12 billion euros.
Why switch to electromagnetic catapults?
“There is nothing better today than the electromagnetic catapult for catapulting aircraft very quickly,” assures 20 Minutes the deputy for Var Yannick Chenevard (Ensemble), rapporteur of the Navy budget to the assembly. The C13 type steam catapults, adapted to the current generation of aircraft and currently used on the Charles de Gaulle, are “less flexible in use”, explains the French Navy.
“The steam system can maintain a high launch rate, but at a slower rate,” continues the Navy. Return to battery takes longer because it depends on filling with steam, restoring pressure and stabilizing the installation. The Emals significantly reduce this phase.” Another advantage: “electromagnetic technology frees up a lot of space compared to a steam catapult, which will allow us to benefit from three catapults on the France Libre [compared to two on the Charles de Gaulle]” continues Yannick Chenevard.
Thanks to these two advantages, “the time required to catapult around twenty aircraft will be approximately halved”, continues the French Navy, which will also be able to “better distribute launches and implement more aircraft in parallel”.
Furthermore, “Emals technology allows great versatility,” underlines Cher (Ensemble) MP François Cormier-Bouligeon, budget rapporteur for National Defense. We will be able to launch all types of devices, such as the Rafale F5 and long-range drones, but this is not possible with steam catapults. This is crucial because the France Libre [which must enter service in 2038] will sail until the end of the 21st century and will probably carry as many manned fighter planes as unmanned fighter planes in the coming decades.”
The electromagnetic system makes it possible to more finely adjust the energy transmitted to each device, “the acceleration is also less brutal, which reduces the jolts and the constraints exerted on the cell and the front axle of the aircraft” further points out the French Navy. “It is also a less noisy system, which is essential for the comfort of the military on the aircraft carrier” adds François Cormier-Bouligeon.
Is there a risk of dependence on the United States?
The entire French defense industrial and technological base (BITD) will be mobilized for the construction of the France Libre in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique). “More than 90% of the purchases necessary for the program will be made in France. These purchases will be made from a network of around 800 suppliers, including more than 600 SMEs and ETIs,” underlines the manufacturer Naval Group.
Electromagnetic catapults represent a large part of the remaining 10%, following a contract worth around 1.2 billion euros awarded to the industrial company General Atomics. Which raises questions about dependence on the United States in the event of a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries. “We are already dependent on the current steam catapult system, since it is also American technology. However, cooperation with the United States has never been lacking, including during moments of tension such as the war in Iraq,” says MP François Cormier-Bouligeon.
Can Donald Trump's statements call Emals technology into question?
Beyond the risk of dependence, isn't the threat weighing on the electromagnetic catapult industry after Donald Trump announced he wanted to return to steam technology even greater?
“No particular technical or industrial risk has been identified for the manufacture of electromagnetic catapults intended for Free France, or their maintenance in the coming decades,” estimates the French Navy. The first three aircraft carriers which are either in service [USS Gerald R. Ford] or under construction [USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise] within the US Navy are already equipped with electromagnetic catapults. The manufacturing and maintenance chain for these catapults is therefore active and will be maintained. The Directorate General for Armaments is in contact with its American counterparts who themselves conduct their own analyzes on this subject. » The order was indeed recently notified to General Atomics, Mer et Marine revealed.
“All specialists in the world know that this type of statement [by Donald Trump] is inconsistency,” analyzes MP Yannick Chenevard. Wanting to return to steam catapults would not only be irresponsible but would also cause a huge delay in the renewal of aircraft carriers of the current class, and it would cost the Navy a fortune. I am convinced that it will not go in that direction.” “It’s a non-rational decision,” also believes François Cormier-Bouligeon. But whatever Trump decides, the technology will continue to be developed and maintained for decades, giving us time to conquer bricks of sovereignty over these Emals ourselves.”
Can France develop this Emals technology itself?
When updating the Military Programming Law, deputies Yannick Chenevard and Jean-Louis Thiériot tabled an amendment to study the feasibility of building electromagnetic catapults in France. “Not for Free France but for the future, especially since nothing says that we are not going to need a second aircraft carrier [a “sister ship”] given the deterioration of the international situation,” explains Yannick Chenevard.
“The United States has 11 aircraft carriers, we have one: developing our own electromagnetic catapult industry on the scale of an aircraft carrier would be very long and expensive: between 3 and 5 billion euros and between 15 and 20 years of development,” emphasizes François Cormier-Bouligeon. As for the question of the "sister ship", I'm not saying that I'm against it, but for what use, and how can it be financed? At this time, this is not possible, knowing that we have already doubled the defense budget to 436 billion euros for the period 2024-2030. »
