Trump executive order directs Navy to return to steam-powered aircraft catapults

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the U.S. Navy to replace electromagnetic aircraft catapults in future Ford-class nuclear aircraft carriers with older steam-powered technology.

Critics argue the decision could severely impact fleet readiness and incur massive costs. Experts suggest that redesigning ships currently under construction, such as the USS Doris Miller, could cost billions of dollars and delay launches into the late 2030s. The shift back to steam power may also face manufacturing hurdles, as steam catapults have not been produced for nearly three decades.

While the Ford-class was designed to use electromagnetic systems to reduce crew requirements and simplify mechanics, the new order reverses this direction. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has criticized the move, questioning the President's technical expertise on naval engineering. Analysts warn that these delays and redesigns could shrink the active carrier fleet to as few as nine vessels during the next decade, exacerbating existing maintenance backlogs and deployment challenges.