Trump Orders Navy Steam System Return
President Donald Trump has issued a national security directive ordering the United States Navy to remove the advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, commonly known as EMALS, from its newest generation of aircraft carriers and return to traditional steam-powered catapults.
The directive instructs the Pentagon and the Navy to submit concrete plans within two months to strip the electromagnetic setup and replace the electromagnetic weapons elevators on future Ford-class ships. The fourth ship in the class, the USS Doris Miller, has been identified as the first vessel to undergo these major redesign changes. Meanwhile, earlier ships like the USS Gerald R. Ford will remain unaffected by the mandate.
The decision marks the continuation of a long-standing criticism from the administration regarding high-tech naval equipment. Dating back to his first term, Trump has publicly disparaged the reliability and power capacity of electromagnetic catapults, consistently advocating for a return to steam technology.
While military planners and defense contractors initially championed EMALS for its ability to launch a wider variety of aircraft with smoother acceleration and fewer operating personnel, the pivot back to older tech introduces severe logistical hurdles. Industry manufacturers have warned that altering the design of ships that are already significantly advanced in construction will introduce substantial financial costs, schedule delays, and integration risks.
The sweeping mandate arrives as the Department of Defense navigates complex budget negotiations and ongoing fleet-wide staffing shortages. Reverting to steam power will inherently increase the number of sailors required to operate the flight deck systems at a time when the Navy continues to struggle with filling thousands of open positions across active warships.
Furthermore, defense analysts note that the shift stands in stark contrast to international naval trends, as foreign competitors like China continue to equip their newest aircraft carriers with electromagnetic launch technology.
