An F/A-18 Super Hornet completes a catapult-assisted takeoff from the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford during Operation Epic Fury against Iran in April 2026. President Donald Trump has issued an order replacing the electromagnetic aircraft catapults on the modern Ford-class carriers with steam ones, although current aircraft carriers will not be affected. (US Navy/Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Daniel Ruiz)

Why Is Trump Trying to Tear Out the US Navy’s Modern Aircraft Catapults?

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Electromagnetic catapults are superior in nearly every way to the older steam-powered ones, and most of the early problems with them have already been worked out. But Trump likes steam.

As commander-in-chief, President Donald Trump is micromanaging the United States military to a far greater extent than any of his predecessors—in ways that could seriously impact combat effectiveness for a generation to come. From the proposed “Golden Dome for America” missile defense program to the call for a new class of battleships—naturally named for himself—the president believes bigger is always better, and that stating that something is the “best” will win the day.

This week, the president issued an order for the United States Navy to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered supercarriers and revert back to steam-powered catapults, which he claimed were combat-proven. This isn’t the first time that Trump has been critical of the system due to problems with its development. Still, analysts have noted that the EMALS promises improved sortie rates and would be more efficient during the service life of a carrier.

Trump also called for the installation of the older hydraulic systems instead of the newer Advanced Weapons Elevators.

“Within 60 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of War, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, shall provide to the President, through the Director of the........

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