Navy Jet System Reversion
Trump Orders Navy to Replace Advanced Jet Launch System with Older Steam Catapults
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to rip out the advanced jet-launch system on its newest aircraft carrier and replace it with older steam-powered technology. The move is expected to cost billions of dollars, according to News Herald.
The order targets the USS Doris Miller, the Navy's most modern carrier. Its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System — known as EMALS — would be removed in favor of steam catapults, a decades-old technology that requires more sailors to operate and is harder to maintain, Sun Sentinel reported.
What EMALS Is and Why It Was Built
EMALS uses electromagnetic force to launch jets off a carrier deck. It replaced the older steam catapult system on the Navy's newest Ford-class carriers. The technology was designed to launch aircraft more smoothly, reduce wear on planes, and require fewer crew members to operate, according to Capital Gazette.
Steam catapults have been the Navy standard for decades. They work, but they need more sailors and more upkeep. EMALS was meant to be the upgrade. Trump's order would reverse that progress on at least one ship.
Billions in Costs to Undo a Modern Upgrade
Stripping EMALS from the USS Doris Miller and installing steam catapults is not cheap. The process is expected to cost billions of dollars, Greeley Tribune reported. The Navy would essentially be paying to make one of its most advanced ships less advanced.
The order comes as Congress is already weighing major Pentagon spending bills. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the cost of the ongoing Iran conflict has grown to $37.5 billion, adding pressure to an already stretched defense budget, according to Daily News.
Trump Has Long Criticized EMALS Technology
Trump has been skeptical of EMALS for years. During his first term, he publicly complained about the system, saying steam was simpler and more reliable. His latest order follows through on that long-held view, Pilot Online reported.
Critics of the move say it goes against military logic. Steam catapults are older, bulkier, and need larger crews. The Navy spent years and billions developing EMALS precisely to get away from those drawbacks, according to Twin Cities.
Pentagon Budget Fights Collide With Navy Overhaul
The EMALS reversal lands at a complicated moment. Congress is weighing funding for the Pentagon while also accounting for the growing costs of the Iran war. Hegseth's $37.5 billion war cost estimate has put new strain on military planning, Journal Advocate reported.
Adding billions more to swap out a working system on a brand-new carrier raises questions on Capitol Hill about spending priorities. The USS Doris Miller has not yet entered full service, making the retrofit costly but still possible before the ship is fully operational, according to Daily Press.
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