President Donald Trump has directed the US Navy to scrap the modern electromagnetic launch system on an upcoming aircraft carrier and instead revert to an older, steam-powered catapult method. This move has been met with criticism from naval experts, who argue that it will add billions to the carrier’s price tag and delay its deployment into the late 2030s.

Background

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest US aircraft carrier, was built with an electromagnetic launching system known as EMALS. However, the US Navy’s 10 older carriers, the Nimitz class, still rely on steam-powered catapults. The White House argues that the move will ‘fix critical long-term issues’ in Navy shipbuilding and ship repair programs.

Naval experts, including Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, have expressed concerns about the decision. Clark stated that the move would require the USS Doris Miller, which is already under construction, to be redesigned, and that the cost of this redesign ‘will probably be into the billions.’ He also noted that the electromagnetic system is ‘a lot simpler’ and has proven to be ‘easier to operate and less expensive in terms of personnel and maintenance.’

Implications

The decision to use steam-powered catapults has significant implications for the US Navy. The USS Doris Miller’s delay, along with the retirements of carriers in the Nimitz class, could mean that the US Navy will ‘be very short on carrying capacity’ next decade, according to Clark. Additionally, the Navy will face the logistical issue of finding a manufacturer of steam catapults, as they have not been produced in the US for many years.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.