This video explains the key differences between steam and electromagnetic catapults on aircraft carriers and why the U.S. Navy is transitioning to the newer technology despite political controversy.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet accelerates from a dead stop to flight speed in a matter of seconds, propelled by a steam catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier. That violent burst of energy, ...

Aircraft carriers are impressive military machines capable of launching aircraft off an incredibly short runway. This isn't done merely by utilizing a fighter jet's speed. Instead, it's accomplished ...

Not all aircraft carriers launch planes the same way. Some use steam or electromagnetic catapults to "fling" aircraft into the air. Others use a ski jump: a simple upward-curved ramp that lets jets ...