Aircraft catapult

In addition to the traditional catapult of early warfare, the name catapult is also given to devices used to launch aircraft from ships, in particular aircraft carriers.

Up to and during World War II most such catapults were hydraulic. After the war navies gradually converted to steam catapults, which were the only ones capable of launching the heavier jet fighters. At the beginning of the 21st century, navies started experimenting with catapults powered by linear induction motors and electromagnetics.

As of this writing, except in the United States Navy and French Navy, catapults have mostly fallen out of use, as most navies prefer to use the AV-8B Harrier II and its derivatives, which are STOVL aircraft.