wsj.com
Politics
Trump Directs Navy to Replace Electromagnetic Launchers with Steam
President Trump has ordered the removal of advanced jet launching technology from aircraft carriers in favor of traditional steam systems.
Added 8/14/2026
President Trump signed a directive on Thursday instructing the Navy to dismantle the complex electromagnetic mechanism used for launching fighter jets from its aircraft carriers.
The mandated overhaul applies to the Gerald R. Ford class of ships and forces a return to older steam-powered catapults, a shift that Navy leadership has resisted for an extended period according to wsj.com.
Official estimates indicate that this reversal will require a multi-billion dollar expenditure to execute.
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