Trump Orders New Aircraft Carrier to Abandon EMALS, Return to Steam Catapults
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
President Trump signed a national security memorandum on Thursday (March 13) ordering the US Navy to abandon the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on new aircraft carriers and revert to the traditional steam catapult system. The directive requires the Pentagon and Navy to submit a related plan within 60 days. The fourth Ford-class carrier, USS Doris Miller, currently under construction, will now adopt steam catapults instead, with delivery expected in early 2034. The first three Ford-class carriers—USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy, and Enterprise—will retain their electromagnetic catapults.
Key Points
- The fourth Ford-class carrier Doris Miller will be the first to switch from electromagnetic to steam catapults, with construction nearly half complete
- General Atomics, the EMALS manufacturer, warned the change brings "enormous cost, schedule, and integration risks" that require serious reconsideration
- Trump has repeatedly criticized EMALS as "not that good" and "too complicated," citing higher costs and unreliable performance compared to steam systems
- Navy and industry officials oppose the switch, as redesigning a system already integrated into Ford-class carrier design could cost billions of dollars
- China has already deployed electromagnetic catapults on its newest carrier Fujian, while France plans to use a similar system on its next-generation carrier
Why It Matters
The reversal marks a significant shift in US naval aviation policy and could affect America's technological edge in carrier operations. General Atomics warned the decision could "create opportunities for adversaries to narrow the capability gap," while experts note the engineering complexity of replacing EMALS with steam catapults on the redesigned Ford-class carriers may cost tens of billions of dollars .
The reversal marks a significant shift in US naval aviation policy and could affect America's technological edge in carrier operations. General Atomics warned the decision could "create opportunities for adversaries to narrow the capability gap," while experts note the engineering complexity of replacing EMALS with steam catapults on the redesigned Ford-class carriers may cost tens of billions of dollars .