President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to abandon the advanced aircraft launch system used on its newest aircraft carriers and return to older steam-powered catapults, a technology he has repeatedly said he prefers.
A memorandum issued Thursday directed the Pentagon and the Navy to present Trump with plans within two months for removing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, known as EMALS.
The directive could cost billions of dollars and would require the Navy to move away from its most advanced carrier technology and return to a system that requires more sailors to operate and is more difficult to maintain.
The move follows years of criticism from Trump over the magnetically driven catapult technology used to launch fighter jets from aircraft carrier decks. Technology experts, however, have pointed to several advantages of EMALS, including its ability to launch aircraft at higher speeds while requiring fewer sailors to operate, taking up less space aboard carriers and offering maintenance advantages.
The decision also comes as the Navy continues to face challenges in recruiting and retaining enough sailors to fully staff its fleet, while the U.S. military is seeking additional congressional funding for new equipment.
During his first term in office, Trump criticized the electromagnetic system in an interview with Time magazine, arguing that it was inferior to traditional steam-powered catapults and lacked the necessary power.
“You use steam, damn it,” Trump said at the time.
General Atomics, which is involved in the development of the electromagnetic launch and aircraft arresting systems, said work on the systems for the future USS Doris Miller was already about halfway complete.
“Changing direction now would introduce significant risks to cost, schedule and integration,” the company said.
The order comes as Congress prepares to consider legislation needed to fund the U.S. government and the Pentagon. The Trump administration has said additional funding is necessary to support the Defense Department and the war with Iran.
