EMALS powers jets aboard Ford-class carriers, replacing steam cats with electricity-driven launch. Current news: Trump calls for return to steam catapults on Doris Miller, criticizing EMALS and weapons elevators.
The memo directs the Pentagon and Navy to plan for replacing EMALS and electromagnetic weapons elevators with steam systems on the Ford-class carrier Doris Miller, with delivery slated for 2034. The move follows years of Trump criticism of EMALS and could affect cost, timelines, and the U.S. Navy’s carrier program.