President Donald Trump has issued a directive requiring the Pentagon to replace electromagnetic launch systems with steam catapults on a new aircraft carrier, fulfilling a preference he has championed since 2017. The national security memorandum, signed Thursday, instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to develop a plan for retrofitting the USS Doris Miller, a Ford-class carrier already behind schedule, within 60 days.
Trump has consistently criticized modern digital catapult technology as overly complex and expensive. In a 2017 Time magazine interview, he described the electromagnetic system as problematic, claiming it costs hundreds of millions of dollars more than steam alternatives. He has repeated variations of this narrative annually, including during campaign events and military engagements since returning to office in 2025.
The proposal faces significant resistance from naval and industry officials who warn that removing the integrated electromagnetic system would require substantial reconstruction expenses. Despite these concerns, Trump has maintained that steam catapults represent superior technology, citing their relative simplicity and repairability compared to electronic components requiring specialized expertise.
The 60-day timeline represents Trump’s most concrete action yet on the issue after nearly a decade of public advocacy for the change.
Originally reported by Theguardian →
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