Trump allows Navy to build ships abroad, orders return to steam catapults on carriers

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a directive allowing the Navy to construct ships abroad for the first time in decades and ordering a return to steam catapults for launching aircraft from carriers. The White House announced Thursday that Trump signed a national security memorandum mandating this change, which will affect the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. This vessel will forgo the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) used on the first three ships in the class, a design modification expected to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The directive specifically targets the Doris Miller, the fourth ship in the Ford class, for the design change. The keel for the Doris Miller is scheduled to be laid by the end of 2026, with delivery anticipated in early 2034. Trump has been a vocal critic of the EMALS, deeming it overly expensive and less effective than traditional steam catapults. He previously stated that billions were spent on electric catapults that are "not good" and "too complex."

General Atomics, the manufacturer of EMALS, cautioned that altering the course now, with nearly 50 percent of production complete, would introduce significant risks related to cost, schedule, and integration. The Navy has referred media inquiries to the White House. The memorandum also permits foreign shipbuilders who have invested in U.S. shipyards to build up to two ships in their home countries to address urgent needs, supplementing the U.S. shipbuilding capacity.

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Billions of dollars more they spent on electric catapults and they're not good. They're not nearly as good, too complex.