Trump calls for steam catapults on aircraft carriers

Trump signed a national security memorandum that calls for the redesign of the fourth carrier of this class, the USS Doris Miller, and all subsequent ships. The first three – the USS Gerald R. Ford, the USS John F. Kennedy, and the USS Enterprise – will retain their electromagnetic catapults, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The White House stated that this decision should lead to the development of carriers with battle-tested steam and hydraulic systems, which the administration believes are more resilient and reliable. This should help rebuild part of the American maritime industrial base.

General Atomics, which manufactures electromagnetic catapults and advanced arresting gear for Ford-class aircraft carriers, stated that the decision to return to steam-powered systems merits careful review.

"This decision will have broader implications for carrier readiness, national security, and U.S. technological superiority, potentially creating opportunities for adversaries to close the capability gap," General Atomics stated.

Photo: Kaitlin Young.