Trump's been railing against the electromagnetic catapults on the Navy's newest carriers for years. Now, he's pushing a return to steam.
The president has repeatedly criticized the electromagnetic catapults and weapons elevators on the USS Gerald R. Ford supercarrier.
President Donald Trump has been vocal against the electromagnetic catapults installed on the Navy's latest aircraft carriers for many years. Now, he is advocating for a return to steam-powered systems for future carriers. This shift could incur billions of dollars in additional costs and necessitate a major redesign, according to a defense expert.
The first Ford-class carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, utilized electromagnetic catapults upon its commissioning, establishing a new technological benchmark for forthcoming carriers. During his tenure, Trump consistently criticized both the new catapults and the advanced weapons elevators, stating they were ineffective and promising future carriers would employ steam propulsion.
On Thursday, Trump issued a directive to the Department of Defense to commence planning for replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and advanced weapons elevators on a future carrier with steam and hydraulic systems, granting the Secretary of Defense and Navy Secretary 60 days to formulate a plan encompassing timelines and resource requirements.
The USS Doris Miller, the fourth Ford-class carrier, will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding and is projected to be delivered in 2034, two years later than originally scheduled. The Doris Miller, along with the USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise, which is expected to enter service in the coming years, will mark the Navy's transition to steam-powered systems.
This change is anticipated to escalate costs and cause delays in production for the Miller, which is presently 50% complete. Despite Trump's announcement, General Atomics, the contractor responsible for constructing the EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear for the Miller, cautioned that the decision requires careful consideration. The company emphasized the significant cost, schedule, and integration risks associated with redesigning the carriers to accommodate steam piping for catapults.
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