Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to reinstate steam catapults on aircraft carriers
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Navy to resume using steam catapults to launch aircraft from aircraft carriers. Implementing this decision could cost the U.S. budget billions of dollars.
According to the publication, on August 13, Trump signed a memorandum calling for a change in the aircraft launch systems on future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.
This involves dismantling the EMALS electromagnetic launch system, which is used to launch aircraft from the decks of modern U.S. aircraft carriers.
Specifically, the U.S. Navy must redesign the fourth ship of the Gerald R. Ford class—the aircraft carrier Doris Miller—as well as subsequent ships in the series so that they can use steam catapults.
At the same time, the first three aircraft carriers of this class will retain the EMALS electromagnetic launch system.
With this decision, the U.S. president is effectively fulfilling a promise he made nearly ten years ago.
During his first presidential term, Trump announced his intention to return to steam catapults after hearing positive feedback about the technology from a sailor during a visit to a U.S. warship.
However, U.S. Navy leadership and representatives of the defense industry had long opposed such a move. The main reason was the enormous costs associated with dismantling the electromagnetic system, which is an integral part of the aircraft carriers’ design.
EMALS electromagnetic catapults were originally developed as a more efficient and flexible alternative to steam systems.
However, in operation, they proved to be complex and expensive to maintain. This was one of the arguments in favor of returning to tried-and-true steam technology.
At the same time, replacing the system on ships that have already been designed will require significant redesign and additional funding.
The U.S. President’s memorandum also contains a number of other directives aimed at developing the U.S. Navy.
In particular, these include improving the maintenance and repair of submarines, as well as attracting foreign investment into the U.S. shipbuilding sector.
Washington seeks to increase the size of the U.S. Navy, so the Trump administration views expanding the shipbuilding industry’s production capacity as one of its key priorities.
This was reported by The Washington Post.
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