China: Images allegedly show electromagnetic drone catapults on trucks

China is apparently working on military drone catapults that are electromagnetically operated and can be deployed mobile on trucks (LKW). Images of the prototypes have now appeared on the Chinese internet, reportedly showing three units at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in eastern China.

The images show three eight-wheeled trucks equipped with launch devices for larger drones. The news portal The War Zone suspects that the vehicles are designed to seamlessly join together to form a chain, creating a continuous flat surface on top. A drone is visible on the cargo area of one of the trucks, its nose gear appearing to be secured in a mount on the aforementioned surface.

Complex Electronics

Apart from the driver's cabs, the trucks largely lack side paneling, revealing their extensive electronics with numerous heavy, exposed cables. A cylindrical drum is located above each wheel.

Several indications suggest that the trucks are part of a mobile ground-based electromagnetic catapult system. The cylinders and cables could be electromagnets or other supporting components. For a smooth drone launch, such a truck would also need to be self-leveling. The cylinders and visible electronics could also serve this purpose, speculates The War Zone.

Installed Technology Raises Questions

Of course, they could also be purely transport vehicles, but the installed technical components raise questions. The Chinese company Tiantao Technology presented plans for a corresponding system in August. While the renderings differ significantly from the vehicles at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard, these could still be very early prototypes. It is also questionable where the electrical power for the presumed catapult devices of the sighted trucks would come from. According to Tiantao Technology, the planned system is intended to be capable of launching unmanned aircraft weighing up to approximately 2.2 tons.

The idea is not entirely new. During the Vietnam War, the US Marine Corps used the Short Airfield for Tactical Support (SATS) system, which functioned as an "aircraft carrier on land" with catapults and arresting gear.

There is no apparent reason why the presumed military prototypes were at the shipyard. However, according to The War Zone, it is common in China for new military capabilities to be announced between Christmas and New Year's, with explicit approval from Beijing – even if not directly through official channels. This could explain why the authorities apparently took no special measures to shield the technology from the public.

(nen)