‘Very outdated’: Trump’s directive to revert to steam catapults on new aircraft carrier baffles naval experts

Naval Experts Question Trump’s Decision to Return to Steam-Powered Aircraft Launch Systems

Healfromzero.com – The United States Navy faces a significant technological reversal after President Donald Trump issued a directive requiring the installation of steam-powered catapults on the upcoming USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier. This decision abandons the electromagnetic launch system that has been implemented on the newest carrier in the fleet, potentially adding billions of dollars to construction costs and pushing the vessel’s operational timeline into the latter half of the next decade.

A Directive That Challenges Modern Naval Engineering

According to a White House memorandum and accompanying fact sheet published on Thursday, the president has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop a comprehensive plan within sixty days for retrofitting the carrier under construction. The vessel, which will bear the name of the World War II hero USS Doris Miller, was originally designed to utilize electromagnetic launch technology.

The White House maintains that this strategic pivot addresses fundamental problems within Navy shipbuilding and repair programs. However, naval specialists have expressed considerable surprise at the timing and rationale behind the decision to abandon electromagnetic systems in favor of steam-powered alternatives.

Understanding the Technology Gap

The distinction between these two launch systems represents more than a simple engineering preference. The electromagnetic aircraft launch system, or EMALS, operates on principles similar to high-speed rail technology, creating a streamlined mechanism with fewer moving components. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, explained that this design makes electromagnetic systems considerably simpler to operate and maintain.

The electromagnetic ones have proven themselves to be easier to operate and less expensive in terms of personnel and maintenance. So the Navy has saved $100 million a year on the Ford class carrier.

Steam catapults, by contrast, incorporate numerous mechanical elements including valves, pressure regulators, and pistons. These components require regular maintenance and are more susceptible to environmental factors. The newest carrier in the fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was constructed with the electromagnetic system, while ten older Nimitz-class carriers continue to rely on steam-powered technology.

Financial and Timeline Consequences

Redesigning the USS Doris Miller to accommodate steam catapults will require substantial financial investment. Clark estimated that the additional costs would likely reach into the billions of dollars. Furthermore, the carrier’s expected entry into service around 2034 could be delayed until the end of the next decade, creating potential gaps in naval capacity during a critical period.

The president has maintained a longstanding position regarding this technological debate, arguing that electromagnetic systems present unnecessary complexity. During remarks at the Defense and Innovation Summit in July, Trump highlighted specific operational concerns.

They’re not nearly as good, too complex. And by the way, we had to call the ship in twice because the catapults didn’t work. When a little water touches the magnets, it doesn’t work anymore.

He further emphasized environmental vulnerabilities, noting that electromagnetic systems must function reliably in Atlantic waves reaching sixty feet and Pacific waves extending to seventy feet.

Expert Skepticism and Manufacturing Challenges

Chris Cavas, a veteran journalist and podcast host who has personally experienced launches using both systems, characterized the White House memo as representing outdated thinking. He described the electromagnetic system as providing smoother launches with significantly reduced stress on aircraft during takeoff operations.

Beyond the technical debate, the Navy confronts a substantial logistical hurdle. The electromagnetic launch systems are currently under contract with external manufacturers, but steam catapult production has largely ceased. Cavas noted that the Navy has not manufactured new steam catapults since the George H.W. Bush carrier entered service in 2009, meaning much of the necessary infrastructure has been dismantled.

Nobody builds them anymore. There’s no steam catapult manufacturers in the US anymore so they’d have to restart that production line, which would cost tens of millions of dollars to get going and that’ll be, it’ll take years to start that up again and build the first catapult.

Political Response and Strategic Implications

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, voiced strong criticism through a post on X on Thursday. He emphasized his extensive experience launching from aircraft carriers hundreds of times, his master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and his background as a test pilot.

I’ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times, have a Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and am a test pilot and even I wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships.

Clark warned that the combination of the USS Doris Miller’s delayed deployment and the ongoing retirement of Nimitz-class carriers could leave the Navy with limited carrying capacity throughout the next decade. General Atomics, which manufactured electromagnetic launch systems for the USS Gerald R. Ford and was contracted to provide similar equipment for the USS Doris Miller, has been contacted for additional comment regarding the potential contract implications.