Magnetic levitation trains have long been a staple of science fiction, but only within the past decade or so have they finally possessed any serious potential to turn the tables on how militaries transport human bodies and objects. By allowing trains to travel at mind-boggling rates with mind-boggling low friction and significantly less maintenance than conventional rail, maglev systems can potentially revolutionize military defense forces’ logistics coordination and swift mobilization for crisis phases. Military mobility in the contemporary era. Anyone interested in this topic should therefore remain attentive to such developments.
Maglev trains utilize three principles of operation: electromagnetic suspension (EMS), electrodynamic suspension (EDS), and passive ferromagnetic levitation. The EMS systems that currently operate on passenger rail tracks in certain regions of Europe and Asia utilize super-powerful electromagnets to levitate trains above the track a few millimeters, as opposed to wheels, and accelerate at over 400 km/h.
EDS systems, on the other hand, employ superconducting magnets and long-stator motors with enhanced air gaps and self-balancing travel of more than 600 km/h. They would, however, require specially built tracks and enormous amounts of infrastructure investment, which economically does not justify current military uses.
It is what has actually created defense planning interest, however, that is the development of passive maglev systems. They use permanent magnets to suspend cars over conventional rails, lowering energy requirements by much larger orders of magnitude without compromising the reuse of existing infrastructure. That is, so much greater efficiency without the crippling cost of putting in entirely new rail lines.
A more traditional trial was provided by Italy, where IronLev placed a one-ton vehicle on a normal rail. It traveled two kilometers at 70 km/h without needing to change the rail, using magnetic skids to provide a frictionless, almost-smooth ride.
Nevomo is building in Poland MagRail technology that modernizes traditional railways with magnetic propulsion and linear motors. Maglev and traditional trains take the same path with the hybrid technology.
The whole high-speed corridor is possible by the early 2030s, and the first hybrid services are only a few years away from being opened up. Pure military advantage to the military is not waiting decades to receive new systems when capable of refurbishing current ones.
Soldier advantages are clear: stealth, rapid speed of men and gear, less wear and tear, and less expensive in the long term to keep up. Even IronLev’s co-founder quoted their system as being able to pull a 10-ton cart with the same power that pushing a light backpack required. Applied to mobilization uses in everyday life, it translates to quicker mobilization with so much less after-hang logistics.
Some issues are intrinsic, however. Today’s permanent magnets are based on the utilization of the finite resources of rare earth materials that are exposed to disruption. Subduing maglev technology and traditional signaling systems to the point that there can be safe high-speed travel is an issue. The control devices need to be refined further so that they will be able to withstand environmental conditions, as well as reverse such elements as vibration, noise, and magnetic shielding.
But the pace of progress continues to quicken. Widespread high-speed Maglevs across much of Asia have already saved us jaw-dropping hours over traditional rail. The European industry has also been planning sensibly, considering hybrid technology as well as rail retrofits. IronLev’s and Nevomo’s technology shows the way that old infrastructure can be repurposed as low-noise, high-speed, efficient transport solutions.
For military planners, the vision is spectacular. The ability to transport troops and vehicles across a continent in hours, not days, represents a quantum leap in strategic mobility. In full operational deployment, maglev technology can revolutionize military logistics planning and execution for generations to come.