Trump orders US Navy to abandon electromagnetic carrier launch system
President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to scrap its electromagnetic aircraft launch system on future carriers and return to older steam catapults. Trump cited reliability concerns with the newer technology used on the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers.
President Donald Trump has directed the US Navy to abandon the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) used on its newest carriers and revert to the steam catapult technology that powered earlier ships. The order applies to future carrier construction.
Trump has long criticized EMALS, which debuted on the USS Gerald R. Ford, saying the system has been unreliable and costly compared with the proven steam-powered method used for decades. Navy officials have previously acknowledged early technical problems with the electromagnetic system, though many have since been resolved.
The decision could affect shipbuilders and suppliers involved in next-generation carrier programs and reignites debate over the Navy's approach to modernizing its fleet. Defense analysts say reverting to older technology carries its own tradeoffs in launch capacity and maintenance.
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