Trump Orders Navy to Replace EMALS with Steam Catapults on Future Carriers
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the U.S. Navy to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) with older steam catapults on future Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, starting with the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). The first three carriers retain EMALS. Trump has long criticized EMALS, despite Navy reports of higher launch rates and lower maintenance. Experts estimate the redesign will cost billions, cause delays, and face resistance from Navy officials and industry. Steam catapult production lines have been dormant for nearly 20 years.
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Trump Orders Plan to Replace EMALS with Steam Catapults on Future Carrier, Posing Major Risks
President Donald Trump has issued a memo directing the U.S. Navy and Pentagon to produce a plan within 60 days for installing steam-powered catapults and hydraulic elevators on the future Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), replacing the troubled Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWE). The directive, part of a broader memo on rebuilding the Navy and shipbuilding industrial base, could extend to all future Ford-class carriers, though the first three ships (Gerald R. Ford, John F. Kennedy, and Enterprise) would retain the current systems. Trump has criticized EMALS and AWE reliability for years, calling steam catapults 'perfect.' Analysts warn that a major redesign would be costly, time-consuming, and risk further delays to an already strained carrier construction program, potentially putting the future fleet into crisis.
Trump Orders Navy to Plan Return to Steam Catapults on Future Carriers
President Donald Trump has issued a memo directing the U.S. Navy and Pentagon to produce a plan within 60 days for replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWE) on the future Ford-class carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with steam catapults and hydraulic elevators. The directive, part of a broader memo on rebuilding the Navy and shipbuilding industrial base, could extend to all future Ford-class carriers. Trump has long criticized EMALS and AWEs for reliability issues, despite their intended capability advantages. Reverting to older steam and hydraulic systems would require a major redesign, risking further delays and costs for a carrier fleet already years behind schedule. The first three Ford-class ships—USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Enterprise—would retain their current systems. The Navy has not yet commented on the memo.
Trump Orders US Navy to Revert Ford-Class Carrier to Steam Catapults, Despite 20-Year Industry Gap
On August 13, 2026, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the US Navy to replace the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier, the Dorrie Miller (CVN-81), with older steam catapult technology. The order affects only CVN-81, as the first three ships (Ford, Kennedy, Enterprise) already have EMALS installed or in advanced construction. The decision will require a significant redesign, likely causing substantial delays and cost overruns. The last US carrier with steam catapults, USS George HW Bush, entered service 17 years ago, and no steam catapult system has been built in nearly 20 years. The article notes that EMALS, despite teething problems on USS Gerald R. Ford, offers higher efficiency, less airframe stress, and better support for unmanned aircraft. China and France are adopting EMALS for their next-generation carriers, making the US reversal potentially isolating.
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Trump Orders Return to Steam Catapults on Future Navy Carrier, Reversing EMALS
President Donald Trump has issued a memo directing the Department of Defense to plan for replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and advanced weapons elevators on the future USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with steam and hydraulic systems. Trump has long criticized EMALS, calling it overly complex and unreliable. The switch is expected to cause significant cost increases and delays for the carrier, which is already halfway completed and scheduled for delivery in 2034. Steam catapult production lines have been dormant for 20 years, raising industrial base concerns. General Atomics, which holds a $1.2 billion contract for EMALS on the Miller, warned that changing course now would introduce major cost, schedule, and integration risks. The Navy had previously reported that EMALS contributed to higher sortie rates on the USS Gerald R. Ford compared to older Nimitz-class carriers.
Trump Orders Navy to Replace Electromagnetic Catapults with Steam on New Carriers
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the U.S. Navy to replace the advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) with older steam catapults on future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, starting with the USS Doris Miller. The first three carriers—Ford, Kennedy, and Enterprise—will retain their electromagnetic systems. Trump has criticized EMALS since 2017, baselessly claiming magnets fail in water and that steam is superior. The Navy reports that EMALS enables higher launch rates and lower maintenance costs compared to steam. Experts estimate the redesign will cost billions of dollars. Top Navy officials and industry leaders have resisted the move, which appears driven by Trump's personal frustration with cost overruns on the USS Gerald R. Ford.
Trump Orders Navy to Replace Electromagnetic Catapults with Steam on New Carriers, Costing Billions
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the U.S. Navy to install old-fashioned steam catapults on future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, replacing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). The order applies to the newest carrier, Doris Miller, and all subsequent ships, while the first three carriers (Ford, John F. Kennedy, Enterprise) will retain EMALS. Trump has criticized EMALS since 2017, baselessly claiming magnets fail in water and preferring steam catapults for aesthetic reasons. The Navy reports EMALS enables higher launch rates with less maintenance. Experts estimate the redesign will cost billions of dollars. Top Navy officials and industry leaders have resisted the move, which reverses years of technological advancement.