White House on Aug. 14 said President Trump has authorized the US Navy to construct ships overseas and ordered the Navy to abandon the electromagnetic aircraft-launch system (EMALS) on new carriers, reverting to steam catapults. A national security memorandum directs a design change to the fourth Ford-class carrier to drop EMALS used on the first three ships; the change is estimated to cost several hundred mln dlr.

2026-08-14

White House on Aug. 14 said President Trump has authorized the US Navy to construct ships overseas and ordered the Navy to abandon the electromagnetic aircraft-launch system (EMALS) on new carriers, reverting to steam catapults. A national security memorandum directs a design change to the fourth Ford-class carrier to drop EMALS used on the first three ships; the change is estimated to cost several hundred mln dlr.