Full Breakdown
Trump’s Push to Redesign Ford-Class Aircraft Carriers
8/19/2026, 2:16:19 AM
Core Event
On August 13, 2026 President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Defense to submit, within 60 days, a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWE) on the future USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with legacy steam catapults and hydraulic elevators. The memorandum also instructed the Navy to study moving the carrier’s island-tower toward the ship’s mid-section.
Background & Context
The Gerald R. Ford class was built around an all-electric power plant and the EMALS/AWE suite to increase sortie rates, reduce crew size, and support a mixed manned-unmanned air wing. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, required 17 years to complete and has exceeded original cost estimates. President Trump has repeatedly criticized EMALS as “too complex” and praised steam catapults as “battle-tested.” The island’s aft placement was chosen to free forward deck space and minimize turbulence; moving it forward would reverse that logic.
Data & Statistics
- Carrier costs: OMB director Russell Vought noted the first Ford-class ship cost $13 billion, the second $15 billion, and the third—USS Doris Miller—is projected at $18 billion.
- Operational savings: Hudson Institute senior fellow Bryan Clark estimates EMALS saves the Navy roughly $100 million per year in personnel and maintenance costs.
- Production status: General Atomics reported that about 50 percent of the EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear for USS Doris Miller were complete when the memorandum was issued.
- Construction timeline: USS Doris Miller is slated for delivery in the early 2030s under the current schedule.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Trump framed the directive as a return to “proven, reliable, and affordable technologies.”
- Adm. Gary Roughead questioned whether the Navy “has the trades… the experience” to revert to steam catapults.
- France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces (statement dated August 15, 2026) affirmed that the U.S.
Criticism & Opposition
- Rep. (name omitted) and Adm. (name omitted) voiced concerns about cost and schedule impacts.
- General Atomics warned the shift could jeopardize the USS Doris Miller schedule, already two years behind.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
What’s Next
The Navy must deliver a detailed cost-and-timeline plan to the White House by the end of the 60-day window. If the Pentagon proceeds with the steam-catapult retrofit, USS Doris Miller’s delivery could slip beyond its early-2030s target, potentially widening the carrier gap as existing vessels face extended deployments. The island-placement review remains ongoing, with no final decision reported.
