Trump orders Navy to replace EMALS with steam catapults on future Ford-class carriers

Published Aug 14, 01:37 PM UTC

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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.

Source

The New RepublicWestern

Original headline: Trump Orders Navy to Spend Billions of Dollars Undoing Years of Work

Original language: EN

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Trump Orders Navy to Replace EMALS with Steam Catapults on Future Carriers

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Donald Trump U.S. Navy