Trump orders US Navy to revive steam catapults on aircraft carriers

Friday 14 August 2026 - 14:09

By: Azzat Manal

Trump orders US Navy to revive steam catapults on aircraft carriers

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Navy to reconsider the use of modern electromagnetic aircraft launch systems on some future aircraft carriers and return to steam-powered catapults, a move that could require costly redesigns of the Navy’s newest carrier class.

According to the information provided in the source report, Trump signed a national security memorandum directing the Navy to remove the electromagnetic aircraft launch system from the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, the future USS Doris Miller, as well as subsequent ships in the class. The first three carriers — USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise — would retain the electromagnetic system.

The decision revives an issue Trump has raised for years. He previously criticized the electromagnetic launch technology as overly complex and argued in favor of the older steam-based system used on Nimitz-class carriers.

The Gerald R. Ford-class was designed around electromagnetic technology rather than the steam infrastructure found on earlier carriers. Changing the system at this stage could therefore require substantial modifications to the ship’s design and supporting equipment.

The move has raised concerns among naval officials and industry experts over potential costs, delays and technical risks. Naval analyst Bryan Clark said replacing the electromagnetic system with steam technology would be a complicated process because Ford-class carriers were designed differently from their predecessors.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, whose construction cost exceeded $13 billion, experienced significant technical challenges during its development, including problems involving aircraft launch systems, arresting equipment and aircraft elevators. The Navy has nevertheless reported that the newer electromagnetic catapults and advanced arresting equipment have demonstrated improved performance, including the ability to launch and recover aircraft at a higher rate than Nimitz-class carriers.

Supporters of the president’s decision argue that steam and hydraulic technologies are proven, durable and supported by a broader industrial base. The White House said the change could also strengthen parts of the US naval shipbuilding sector and make certain systems easier to maintain and expand.

General Atomics, which manufactures electromagnetic catapults and aircraft arresting systems, has warned that redesigning the Doris Miller after significant work has already been completed could increase costs, delay construction and create additional integration risks.

The debate also has a strategic dimension. China has introduced electromagnetic launch systems on its newest aircraft carriers, while France is planning to use similar technology on its next carrier. Critics therefore fear that abandoning the system could affect the technological advantage and operational readiness of the US Navy.

Trump’s memorandum reportedly includes additional measures aimed at improving submarine maintenance and repair, attracting foreign investment to the US shipbuilding industry and expanding naval repair capacity. It also calls for the creation of a new government shipyard dedicated to submarine repairs, alongside a facility for component maintenance and spare-parts storage.

The decision represents another example of direct presidential intervention in major US defense programs and could have significant implications for the cost, design and future capabilities of the American aircraft-carrier fleet.