Not exactly. Grok4 disagrees but fair point re China Observer. Now, if you would ever admit that you have posted lots of easily-detected CCP-biased stuff (not holding breath)…..
Here’s Grok 4’s analysis, disputing your biased AI tool:
The Chinese Fujian carrier’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) utilizes a medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) integrated power system, which is the first of its kind globally and powers a linear induction motor for launches. In contrast, the US Ford-class EMALS relies on an alternating current (AC) power distribution system, also driving a linear induction motor but supported by flywheel energy storage to handle power surges. While the Chinese system has some advantages in efficiency and potential reliability, it is not superior overall to the Ford’s due to limitations in total energy output, operational maturity, and sustained performance.
Key Advantages of Chinese MVDC EMALS
• Power Efficiency and Density: MVDC allows for higher power density and simpler discharge/storage cycles, reducing conversion losses (from AC to DC) that occur in the US system. This makes it more suitable for integrating high-energy subsystems like catapults on conventionally powered carriers like the Fujian, without the need for extensive conversions.
• Reliability Claims: Sources describe the MVDC setup as more reliable, with fewer failures compared to the Ford’s AC-based EMALS, which reportedly failed about once every 400 launches in early testing (though this has improved over time). China’s system has demonstrated reliability in sea trials, successfully launching aircraft like the J-15T, J-35 stealth fighter, and KJ-600 by September 2025, achieving initial full-deck capability.
• Integration with Advanced Aircraft: China achieved the world’s first EMALS launch of a fifth-generation stealth fighter (J-35) in 2025, ahead of the US, which has not yet fully certified the F-35C for routine EMALS operations on the Ford due to integration challenges.
Key Disadvantages and Why It’s Not Superior Overall
• Energy Delivery: The Ford’s nuclear-powered AC system, generating over 600 MW, delivers higher energy per launch, enabling heavier payloads and higher sortie rates (up to 160 per day). Fujian’s conventional propulsion limits its EMALS to lower energy output, potentially restricting it to lighter aircraft or fewer sustained operations.
• Operational Maturity and Proven Performance: The US system, despite initial teething issues, is combat-proven with years of fleet experience, while China’s is newer and untested in real-world conflict scenarios. Many superiority claims for China’s MVDC come from state-affiliated sources and lack independent verification.
• System Complexity and Adoption: MVDC requires full redevelopment of ship subsystems, increasing costs and risks, whereas the US AC approach leverages established technology for broader compatibility. The US has researched MVDC but prioritizes AC for current needs, with no near-term plans to switch.
In summary, the Chinese DC EMALS offers innovations in efficiency and reliability that could represent a technological edge in specific areas, but the Ford’s system excels in raw power, endurance, and integration within a mature nuclear-powered platform, making it superior for global, high-intensity operations |
