Trump Orders the Navy to Return to an Older System of Launching Jets Off Aircraft Carriers
The reversal keeps electric systems on three carriers already under construction while shifting future ships to steam, a change officials say will cost billions.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump directed the Navy to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System with steam catapults on future Ford-class carriers, beginning with the USS Doris Miller.
- Trump has criticized electromagnetic technology since 2017, claiming the system is "not good" and "too complex," while frequently expressing a desire to return to "godd— steam" systems.
- Reverting to steam catapults requires more sailors, complicating the Navy's efforts to fill 20,000 vacant posts, while early data shows steam carriers cost about $100 million more annually to operate.
- General Atomics warned that modifying the USS Doris Miller, where work is nearly half finished, introduces significant cost and integration risks warranting "careful reconsideration."
- The Navy must present plans to remove EMALS within two months, even as France and Chinese carriers continue utilizing electromagnetic catapults, potentially creating a capability gap for U.S. forces.
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Donald Trump ordered that future American aircraft carriers of the Gerald R. Ford class be restructured, and instead of an electromagnetic catapult, they plan to install tested steam systems.
Trump orders Navy to return to older system of launching jets
According to a directive issued Thursday, the new mandate would likely cost billions of dollars and revert the Navy’s most advanced ships to a system that takes more sailors to operate and is more difficult to maintain.
Trump orders Navy catapult system redesign, replacing state-of-the-art tech with older system
Trump steam catapults: President Trump has directed the US Navy to remove advanced electromagnetic catapults. Older steam-powered catapults will replace the EMALS system on new carriers. This directive affects the USS Doris Miller, the fourth Ford-class carrier. The decision reverses a technological advancement and increases personnel needs. This change occurs amid significant defense funding demands and global naval developments.
Trump's steam catapult choice over EMALS for aircraft carriers slammed by security expert: ‘Some drunk old pilot…’
President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to remove the EMALS system for aircraft carriers and return to steam catapults, which he long said he prefers.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Im Hwa-seop = U.S. President Donald Trump [referred to] the 'catapult' that launches aircraft from an aircraft carrier as the latest electromagnetic technology...
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