Trump directs Navy to return to steam catapults on aircraft carriers
President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy on Thursday to remove the electromagnetic catapult system on aircraft carriers to launch fighter planes and revert back to using catapult systems, a move that officials and experts argue would raise costs in the process. The president directed the service to have Ford-class aircraft carriers, such as the Doris...
President Donald Trump has directed the US Navy to revert to utilizing steam catapults for launching aircraft from aircraft carriers, despite opposition from many naval officers. In a presidential memorandum, Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop a plan within 60 days outlining the necessary adjustments for incorporating hydraulic catapults in the USS Doris Miller, the fourth vessel in the six-ship Gerald R. Ford class.
The Navy has faced challenges with its electromagnetic system for launching jets from the USS Gerald R. Ford, a problem Trump has frequently criticized. Following a complaint from a servicemember, Trump stated that steam catapults are preferable, as they can be fixed with basic tools. This decision is expected to incur significant costs, as the future carriers will require extensive modifications to accommodate steam catapults.
The memorandum also outlines Trump's plans to revive US shipbuilding, including the construction of a fifth Navy shipyard and the development of a new acquisition approach for subs and convoy escort ships.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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