ABSTRACTThe steam catapult currently used aboard the carrier to launch the aircraft has an acceptable suitability and reliability. The operational drawbacks which it has or may have in the future make it prudent to investigate alternative means of launching the aircraft. The proposal here describes a new type of linear d.c. motor utilizing new permanent magnet material (recently in production) enabling a lighter and more efficient motor to be designed. Four motors are used in combination with a multiple pulley arrangement. This combination reduces the motor rotor stopping problem and the mechanical sliding contact problem of the motor to design attainable levels. The calculations are not extensive, as this paper is not a design procedure, and are of the “first cut” variety.The generators used to power the motors are rectified a.c. generators of a type currently under development. The steam turbine prime mover for the generator is the type used currently for ship service electrical power on our latest carriers. The average horsepower during launch of one catapult is 7500 hp (5.6 Mw) and the peak power at the end of the launch is 229,000 hp (170 Mw). All components are state‐of‐the‐art.The total overall weight of the system is estimated to be 60 percent of the overall weight of the steam catapult. The steam load is estimated to be one‐half that of the present steam catapult. The installed cost should be comparable to the steam catapult. These preliminary estimates make the system attractive enough to have a detailed design analysis performed.