The Navy’s High-Tech Catapult Gamble Is Facing a Major Reversal

President Trump ordered the Navy to rip out electromagnetic catapults on future Ford-class carriers and go back to steam, despite years of redesign toward electric power.

Story Snapshot

President Trump directed a return to steam catapults on future Ford-class carriers.
Testing showed the electromagnetic system’s reliability far below Navy goals.
Reverting to steam could force major ship redesigns and higher costs.
The choice may shape how future sixth-generation fighters operate from carriers.

What The Order Does And Why It Matters

President Trump ordered the United States Navy to abandon electromagnetic aircraft launch systems on upcoming Gerald R. Ford-class carriers and return to steam catapults. The directive targets ships still in design or construction and marks a sharp shift from the class’s all-electric plan. The White House move follows years of reliability shortfalls for the electromagnetic launcher on the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford. The decision could add cost and delay as designers rework power, piping, and deck systems.

The order lands amid a familiar defense pattern. A new system promises gains but stumbles early. Pressure then grows to revert to older gear seen as simpler and proven. Supporters of electromagnetic launch say it enables smoother acceleration, lowers manpower needs, and reduces strain on aircraft. Steam is mature but bulky and less efficient. Rebuilding ships around steam could lock in legacy limits for decades, including lower energy ceilings that might matter for heavier future aircraft.

What The Tests Actually Showed On Reliability

The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation reported the electromagnetic launcher achieved 272 mean cycles between operational mission failures in 2021 testing, well below the 4,166 target. In 2022 testing after maintenance, the system reached 614 mean cycles, still far under the goal. The 2023 annual update said reliability had not appreciably changed and still leaned on off-ship technical support. The 2024 report said there was not enough new data to update the figures, signaling persistent concerns.

These measured gaps drove doubts about generating steady flight operations at sea. Low mean cycles between failures can reduce sortie rates and raise maintenance time. The Navy applied hardware and software changes, but official reports state the numbers did not meet requirements. Advocates of the reversal point to these figures as proof the fleet needs a dependable, well-known system now, not promised benefits later.

Why Reverting To Steam Is Not A Simple Swap

The Ford-class design centers on integrated electric power, not high-pressure steam plumbing. Installing steam catapults means adding large steam plants, condensers, piping, and maintenance spaces. That ripples through deck layout, elevators, and arresting gear. Independent reporting and expert analysis warn this is an expensive redesign, not a drop-in fix. It could delay delivery of the affected carriers and raise costs across the program’s life.

Those changes do more than move parts. They also set performance bounds. Steam catapults have lower practical energy output than electromagnetic launchers, which can matter for heavy planes, drones, and future systems. Sixth-generation carrier fighters may need higher launch energy and more precise control to save airframe life and carry larger loads. Locking in steam could cap those gains and add stress on jets that already cost a lot to buy and sustain.

The Bigger Stakes For Taxpayers And The Fleet

The choice is about money, readiness, and future risk. Returning to steam might bring nearer-term predictability if the work holds to schedule, but it also spends more to rebuild ships already designed for electric launch. Sticking with electromagnetic launch demands finishing the job on reliability. That path preserves higher launch energy potential and the electric backbone the Navy planned to use for decades, including for unmanned aircraft and new sensors.

😐 Trump wants to redesign U.S. aircraft carriers because… he doesn’t like the way they look

According to U.S. media reports, the president criticized the placement of the island superstructure on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers and wants future ships to look more like… pic.twitter.com/05lc9b6T98

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 18, 2026

Both paths respond to a shared public worry: waste and indecision in big programs. People on the right and left see a system that buys promises, then pays again to undo them. The record shows the electromagnetic launcher did not meet goals in multiple years of testing. The record also shows the Ford class was built around that technology. Either way, taxpayers fund the fix. Clear milestones, open reporting, and firm accountability will decide if the fleet gets better or just spends more.