Aircraft carriers - ramp v. catapult for takeoff. Russian view.
http://rusnavy.com/science/hull/russiancarrier/5/
I've often wondered about the ramps on other nations aircraft carriers v. the catapults on ours. Clearly the catapults are more complicated, expensive and heavy. The citation is a Russian comparison of the two systems.
Extremely interesting. And it seems as if the steam catapult is on the way out, in favor of an electromagnetic affair. How that would work I don't have the slightest.
The Russian conclusion is interesting, and I won't spoil matters by revealing the outcome.