Trump Orders "Ford" Class New Aircraft Carrier to Resume Steam Catapult Launches

On August 14, Xinhua News Agency reported (Reporter Haiyang) that U.S. President Trump signed a national security memorandum on the 13th, directing the U.S. Navy to redesign the fourth "Ford" class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, abandoning the electromagnetic catapult system and reverting to the older steam catapult. Multiple media outlets reported that this change could cost billions of dollars.

According to reports, the first three aircraft carriers of the "Ford" class, the USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Enterprise, will retain the electromagnetic catapult system, but the fourth carrier, USS Doris Miller, will switch to the steam catapult system. The USS Miller is expected to be delivered in early 2034, with the keel laying anticipated to begin by the end of this year.

The White House stated on the 13th: "This decision will equip the aircraft carrier with battle-tested steam and hydraulic systems," which are more resilient and robust than the existing systems, and will "reactivate parts of the more easily scalable maritime industrial base."

The last aircraft carrier to use steam catapults was the USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class carrier that entered service in 2009.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Navy praised the electromagnetic catapult system and arresting gear of the USS Ford in February, stating that the launch and recovery speed of its carrier-based aircraft is faster than that of Nimitz-class carriers. However, Reuters reported that Trump has repeatedly criticized the electromagnetic catapult system used by the U.S. Navy as being expensive and less effective than steam catapults.

Pentagon data shows that as of March this year, the USS Ford completed 36,863 launches using the electromagnetic catapult system. Earlier this year, the USS Ford completed an 11-month deployment during which it participated in U.S. military operations against Venezuela and Iran.

Brian Clark, a naval expert at the Hudson Institute, a U.S. think tank, believes that the process of replacing electromagnetic catapults with steam catapults is complex and could cost billions of dollars. The internal structure of the Ford-class carriers is significantly different from that of the Nimitz-class carriers, as the latter's steam system powers the catapult system, freshwater heating, and evaporation equipment, with piping running throughout the entire vessel.

Clark also stated that "electricity is more reliable," as it does not require mechanical components related to steam, and the maintenance costs of electrical systems are lower. The USS Ford has 500 fewer sailors, partly due to the reduced number of technicians needed for the steam equipment on board. Preliminary data from the U.S. Navy indicates that the annual operating costs of the USS Ford are approximately $100 million less compared to the Nimitz-class carriers.

General Atomics is responsible for constructing the electromagnetic catapult system and arresting gear for the Ford-class carriers. The company issued a statement saying that the decision to revert to steam catapults "requires careful reconsideration." The company received contracts related to the USS Miller in 2023, and nearly 50% of the work has been completed; "changing the design now would bring significant costs, schedule, and integration risks." (Xinhua News Agency special report)