- President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to remove the electromagnetic catapult system on aircraft carriers and revert to steam catapults, a move that officials and experts argue would raise costs.
- General Atomics, which secured a $1.2 billion contract for EMALS and AAG on USS Doris Miller, warned that changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks.
- The decision drew criticism from Senate Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly, who stated he wouldn't suggest how to engineer specific systems on ships.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, currently uses EMALS, which Trump has criticized as too complex and costly.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford, which cost over $13 billion, experienced construction roadblocks including issues with munitions elevators and arresting gear, and is now in Hampton Roads for repairs after an 11-month deployment.
- The Navy has highlighted that EMALS and AAG contribute to increased sortie generation rates compared to Nimitz-class carriers, based on preliminary data.
- General Atomics also warned of broader implications for carrier readiness, national security, and U.S. technological superiority, potentially creating opportunities for adversaries.
- Trump's directive is part of a broader memo to restore capacity and competition in the maritime industrial base, using proven, reliable, and affordable technologies.
President Trump has mandated the U.S. Navy to replace the electromagnetic catapult system on Ford-class aircraft carriers with traditional steam catapults, citing cost and effectiveness concerns.12
“Billions of dollars more they spent on electric catapults and they’re not good,” Trump stated at a defense summit.
This decision, outlined in a national security memorandum, is expected to incur significant costs, with General Atomics warning of potential “cost, schedule and integration risks” due to the abrupt change.
The company, which has a $1.2 billion contract for the EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear, emphasized that altering course now could jeopardize carrier readiness and U.S. technological superiority.34
“The decision will have broader implications for carrier readiness, national security and U.S. technological superiority,” General Atomics stated.
Critics, including Senate Democrats, have expressed skepticism about the president's technical expertise in military engineering, with Senator Mark Kelly remarking, “I’ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times...and even I wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford, which has faced numerous construction challenges, is currently undergoing repairs after its deployment, which included military operations in Venezuela and Iran.78
The Navy previously highlighted the EMALS system's potential for increased operational efficiency, but the president's directive marks a significant shift in naval strategy.
“General Atomics, which holds a $1.2 billion contract for EMALS on the USS Doris Miller, said nearly 50% of production is complete and changing course now would introduce significant risks. Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, said even he wouldn't suggest how to engineer specific systems on ships.”
