Magnetic launchers provide safer, faster, and lower-friction alternatives to traditional chemical-fuel systems by using innovative principles such as superconducting magnetic levitation, linear motors, and pulsed electromagnetic fields in thrust generation and the control of moving parts. However, magnetic launchers still have not overcome current issues such as efficiency and energy demand, heat management and wear, and control and optimization. This review study aims to present the recent developments—such as magnetic-field optimization, energy-recovery circuits, and artificial-intelligence-based efficiency estimation or control—together with their technical details, by analyzing the current state of different types of magnetic launchers (Maglev Launchers, Coilguns, and Railguns) from 2019 to 2025. In line with this aim, each academic study conducted after 2019 has been compiled and analyzed in terms of launcher type, magnetic-launcher support system, technical characteristics, launch distance, energy consumption, obtained velocity, prominent findings, and additional notes.
KeywordsCoilgunRail-GunMaglev
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Fan, G., Wang, Y., Xu, Q., Nie, X. and Yan, Z. (2019) Design and Analysis of a Novel Three-Coil Reconnection Electromagnetic Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science , 47, 814-820. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2018.2874287
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Abdo, M.M.M., El-Hussieny, H., Miyashita, T. and Ahmed, S.M. (2023) Design of a New Electromagnetic Launcher Based on the Magnetic Reluctance Control for the Propulsion of Aircraft-Mounted Microsatellites. Applied System Innovation , 6, Article 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/asi6050081
Guan, S., Guan, X., Shi, J. and Wu, B. (2022) Numerical Analysis and Measurement of High In-Bore Magnetic Field of Synchronous Induction Coil Launcher. IEEE Access , 10, 3447-3458. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3139672
Kondamudi, S. and Pasumarthi, M.R. (2019) Computations of Magnetic Forces in Multipole Field Electromagnetic Launcher. International Journal of Mathematical , Engi neering and Management Sciences , 4, 761-774. https://doi.org/10.33889//ijmems.2019.4.3-059
Ładyżyńska-Kozdraś, E., Sibilska-Mroziewicz, A., Sibilski, K., Potoka, D. and Żyluk, A. (2023) Dynamics of Separation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from the Magnetic Launcher Cart during Takeoff. Electronics , 12, Article 2883. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12132883
Cheng, B. (2022) The Design and Simulation of a Novel Electromagnetic Launcher with Permanent Magnet. 2022 7 th International Conference on Mechanical Enginee ring and Robotics Research ( ICMERR ), Krakow, 9-11 December 2022, 114-117. https://doi.org/10.1109/icmerr56497.2022.10097818
Manohar, K. and Srichandan, K. (2023) Analysis of Quadrupole Magnetic Field Reluctance-Based Launcher with Different Coil Switching Patterns. IEEE Transactions on P lasma Science , 51, 1370-1376. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2023.3266515
Li, G., Wang, X., Cui, P. and Li, J. (2018) Analysis of Superconducting Linear Synchronous Motor for Electromagnetic Propulsion. Cluster Computing , 22, 2709-2717. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10586-017-1434-y
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Chen, H., Zhan, Y., Nie, R. and Zhao, S. (2019) Multiobjective Optimization Design of Tubular Permanent Magnet Linear Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Scienc e , 47, 2486-2492. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2019.2896886
Boisseau, S., Tosoni, O., Delette, G., Alessandri, B., Boucaud, M., Bohnke, M., et al. (2021) An Autonomous Switch Based on a Rotating Magnet Driven by Magnetic Launchers. Smart Materials and Structures , 30, 02LT01. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665x/abd7e8
Guan, X., Shi, J., Guan, S. and Wang, S. (2021) Modeling and Simulation of Electromagnetic Field of Electromagnetic Coil Launcher. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering , 16, 635-643. https://doi.org/10.1002/tee.23339
Dayan, D., Evzelman, M. and Peretz, M.M. (2020) High-Performance Compact Electromagnetic Coilgun Propulsion System with Low-Voltage Modular Rapid Capacitor Charger. 2020 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition ( APEC ), 48, 1559-1566. https://doi.org/10.1109/apec39645.2020.9124154
Noor, N.M., Aris, I., Misron, N., Shafie, S. and Iqbal, P. (2021) Performance Analysis of the Linear Launcher Motor via Modelling and Simulation for Light Electric Vehicles. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology , 29, 95-105. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.29.1.05
Zhang, B., Kou, Y., Jin, K. and Zheng, X. (2021) A Multi-Field Coupling Model for the Magnetic-Thermal-Structural Analysis in the Electromagnetic Rail Launch. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials , 519, Article 167495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmmm.2020.167495
Liu, S., Miao, H., Guan, J. and Cui, M. (2020) Investigation of Electromagnetic Characteristic in Series-Connected Augmented Quadrupole Rail Launcher. IEEE Transact ions on Plasma Science , 48, 299-304. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2019.2960023
Cao, R., Hu, X., Dong, E., Ma, X. and Zhou, Y. (2021) Research on a Projectile-Borne Measuring Apparatus for Electromagnetic Launcher. Journal of Physics : Conference Series , 1983, Article 012047. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1983/1/012047
Galanin, M.P., Kondratenko, A.K., Lukin, V.V., Rodin, A.S. and Sorokin, D.L. (2019) Methods of Numerical Modeling of a Railgun with Magnetization Turns. Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics , 92, 820-828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10891-019-01991-x
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Cheng, B. (2023) The Development of a Novel Coil Gun with Permanent Magnet. 2023 IEEE / ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics ( AIM ), Seattle, 28-30 June 2023, 531-536. https://doi.org/10.1109/aim46323.2023.10196246
Consolo, V., Musolino, A., Rizzo, R. and Sani, L. (2020) Numerical 3D Simulation of a Full System Air Core Compulsator-Electromagnetic Rail Launcher. Applied Scien ces , 10, Article 5903. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10175903
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Ceylan, D., Karagoz, M., Cevik, Y., Yildirim, B., Polat, H. and Keysan, O. (2019) Simulations and Experiments of EMFY-1 Electromagnetic Launcher. IEEE Transactions on P lasma Science , 47, 3336-3343. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2019.2916220
Li, T., Feng, G. and Liu, S. (2022) Analysis of Electromagnetic Characteristics of the Proposed Composite Four-Rail Electromagnetic Launcher. Science and Engineering of Composite Materials , 29, 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1515/secm-2022-0010
Liang, C., Xiang, H., Yuan, X., Qiao, Z. and Lv, Q. (2021) Reverse Force Suppression Method of Reluctance Coil Launcher Based on Consumption Resistor. IEEE Access , 9, 62770-62778. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3073905
Deng, H., Wang, Y., Fan, G., Liang, L. and Yan, Z. (2019) Design and Test of a Single-Stage Double-Layer Multipole Field Electromagnetic Launcher with a Rotational Performance. IEEE Access , 7, 112008-112014. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2935111
Guo, W., Zhang, T., Mu, Z., Zhu, W. and Li, M. (2023) A Magnetic Field Constrained Type of Multi-Barrel Common-Rail Railgun. Journal of Physics : Conference Series , 2478, Article 092018. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2478/9/092018
Samimi, M. and Hassannia, A. (2022) Investigation of Multi-Layer Secondary Concept of an Electromagnetic Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion , 37, 921-926. https://doi.org/10.1109/tec.2021.3130930
Abdo, M.M.M., Fanni, M., Miyashita, T. and Ahmed, S.M. (2022) The Effect of Coil Geometry and Winding Method on the Electromagnetic Launcher Performance. Proceedings of the 48 th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society , Brussels, 17-20 October 2022, 9968-9973
Hao, S., Chen, L., Shi, H., Li, W. and Li, X. (2023) An Improved Simulation Method for Modular Augmented Staged Electromagnetic Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plas ma Science , 51, 2413-2421. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2023.3297733
Zhang, Y., Zhou, A., Wen, W., Dong, S. and Sun, Z. (2024) Drive Circuit Study of Energy Recovery for Reluctance Coil Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Sci ence , 52, 5468-5477. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2024.3502419
Prasad, G. and Srichandan, K. (2024) Investigation of Magnetic Characteristics and Force-Velocity Behavior of a Two-Wing Armature Electromagnetic Launcher. 2024 IEEE Third International Conference on Power Electronics , Intelligent Control and Energy Systems ( ICPEICES ), Delhi, 26-28 April 2024, 359-364. https://doi.org/10.1109/icpeices62430.2024.10719297
Kang, J., Guan, Y. and Wan, X. (2024) Study on the Selection of Coil Energization Directions in Multistage Synchronous Induction Coil Launcher. Applied Sciences , 14, Article 5663. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135663
Liu, J. and Shi, J. (2024) Research on Flat Coil Electromagnetic Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science , 52, 2368-2376. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2024.3424577
Yuantao, C., Qiuliang, W., Junsheng, C., Ling, X., Jian, S. and Heyang, W. (2024) Damage and Failure Analysis of Insulation Structure of Electromagnetic Coil Launcher in Multiphysics Environment. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation , 31, 1517-1524. https://doi.org/10.1109/tdei.2024.3363118
Yang, Y., Liu, P., Li, C., Li, H. and Zhang, H. (2024) Investigation of the Influence Mechanism of Shield on the Strong Magnetic Field during Electromagnetic Launch. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials , 594, Article 171919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmmm.2024.171919
Zhang, Y., Zhou, A., Lin, X. and Sun, Z. (2024) Efficiency Study of Hybrid Armatures with Coil Launchers of Different Calibres. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science , 52, 3352-3359. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2024.3476451
Xiao, N., Li, J. and Yan, P. (2024) Study on the Prediction of Launcher Efficiency of Electromagnetic Launcher Based on Particle Swarm Optimization-Improved BP Neural Network. Energies , 17, Article 4547. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184547
McNab, I.R. (2025) Electromagnetic Launchers and Space. IEEE Transactions on Plas ma Science , 53, 2739-2749. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2025.3549314
Chen, H., Wang, X., Liu, C., Fikhratovich Shamiyev, M., Obidovich Pulatov, A. and Musolino, A. (2025) Design of a Three-Phase High Torque Density Modular Linear Rotary Switched Reluctance Launcher. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science , 53, 2653-2661. https://doi.org/10.1109/tps.2025.3554014