President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to redesign the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller and all subsequent ships in its class to use traditional steam-powered catapults instead of modern electromagnetic launch systems, according to The Guardian. The directive, signed and delivered to Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, revives a decade-long critique by the commander-in-chief over modern naval engineering.
Cost and Reliability Driving the Redesign
Trump has repeatedly criticized the cost of the electromagnetic launch system, arguing that the digital technology runs hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and performs poorly compared to older alternatives. According to archival reporting from Time Magazine, Trump told a marine officer during his first presidential term in 2017 to abandon digital tech in favor of the older dampsystemet. In addition to financial concerns, the White House maintains that steam catapults are significantly easier to repair when mechanical failures occur at sea.
Military Opposition and Design Challenges
Naval officials and lawmakers have pushed back against the presidential directive, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. Marine officers warn that retrofitting the launch mechanism on Ford-class carriers will trigger massive expenses because the electromagnetic system is already deeply integrated into the structural design of the vessels. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former test pilot and aerospace engineering master’s graduate who has launched from carrier decks hundreds of times, criticized the decision in an interview with the WSJ, stating that even he would not dictate specific structural engineering choices to the Navy.
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The USS Gerald R.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ship does Trump’s order target?
The directive specifically targets the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller, currently under construction, as well as all future carriers built within the same class.
Who must carry out the order?
According to The Guardian, President Trump signed an official order directing Defense Minister Pete Hegseth to execute the transition back to steam catapults.
Why does the Navy oppose the change?
According to The Wall Street Journal, marine officers argue that changing the launch mechanism will be extraordinarily expensive because the electromagnetic system is already fully integrated into the ship class’s architecture.
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