en.Wedoany.com Reported - A video clip posted and later deleted by the School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology on social media has for the first time showcased China's road-mobile electromagnetic catapult launching aircraft. The video shows three eight-wheeled trucks connected like Lego bricks to form a runway, successfully launching a propeller-driven drone.

This system achieves portable deployment by miniaturizing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) technology already used on Chinese aircraft carriers. The clip also shows the process of the three trucks separating and reconnecting, and demonstrates all-wheel steering functionality, theoretically allowing the system to launch drones or small aircraft in any direction as long as sufficient space is available.

The United States first launched an aircraft using EMALS on the USS Gerald R. Ford in 2017, becoming the first country in the world to deploy this technology. China has equipped its aircraft carrier, the Fujian, with three EMALS catapults, while the United States has four. In terms of progress in demonstrating a portable EMALS, China leads the United States, with its three-truck solution being a first for both countries.

Among the more than 70 organizations directly involved in this project, Chinese state-owned enterprise giants account for a significant share, laying the foundation for next-generation drone-based operations. Although the video has been deleted by the School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, defense forums and Chinese analysts continue to discuss this technological achievement. Currently, only China and the United States have actually deployed EMALS technology on ships, and China is the only country with a land-based portable version.