Trump orders steam catapults, but US Navy keeps EMALS alive
President Trump has ordered the US Navy to revert to steam catapults for future Ford-class aircraft carriers, citing cost and design issues. However, the Navy continues to invest in the electromagnetic launch system (EMALS), creating a conflict between executive orders and ongoing technical procurement.
Why it matters
The clash highlights the challenges of military procurement, where political directives may conflict with established engineering infrastructure and sunk costs.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to return to the old steam catapult for its future Ford-class aircraft carriers. But even as the administration pushes to revive the decades-old technology, the Navy appears to be continuing work on the electromagnetic launch system designed to power its newest carriers.According to Defense News, the Navy has recently awarded contracts related to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, including a $49.3 million contract to Kato Engineering for its energy storage subsystem. The Navy has also sought vendors for additional EMALS components, including recirculation pumps.The development comes after Trump ordered the Navy to prepare a plan to replace EMALS with traditional steam catapults on USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), the next Ford-class aircraft carrier under construction.In an August memo, Trump cited shipbuilding setbacks, cost growth and delays linked to what he described as overly complex designs and repeated design changes.
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