Failure of the Electromagnetic Launch System, the United States will face the most painful consequences: the US Navy may no longer have new aircraft carriers.
The United States never expected that betting on the electromagnetic launch system would ultimately lead to failure. The medium voltage AC + flywheel energy storage technology has left the Ford-class carrier unable to form actual combat capability even after 10 years of service.
It is not only the electromagnetic launch system that has problems, but the arresting system is also of little practical use. Even the advanced weapon elevators have major issues.
Because of its blind optimism about electromagnetic launch technology, the United States did not make any reserves for the steam catapult technology. The steam catapult supplier BW Company went bankrupt.
This has led to the most painful consequence for the United States, which is that the US Navy may no longer have new aircraft carriers.
Although the Kennedy is still under construction, the problems with the Kennedy are even greater than those of the Ford. That is, the Kennedy lacks too many parts. In 2022, the United States ordered HY-100 special steel, but as of April 2025, 45% of it had not been delivered, leading to a lack of key materials for continuing construction of the Kennedy.
The procurement cycle for the condenser copper alloy piping used in the nuclear power system of the Kennedy has been extended to 36 months. Moreover, Newport News Shipbuilding lacks 5,500 essential aircraft carrier components.
With so many parts missing, how can the Ford be maintained and repaired? Unable to do anything, the American shipyards have no choice but to dismantle parts from the Kennedy.
In other words, the completion of the Kennedy is still far away, let alone the ones that have not even started yet.
The United States never expected that their overconfidence in the new technologies of the Ford would lead to the collapse of most of the suppliers of the Nimitz-class carriers. The Zumwalt-class failed, and the United States could still return to building the Arleigh Burke III.
But now, with the failure of the Ford, the United States has no way to go back to building the Nimitz-class.
To make matters worse, the first ship of the Nimitz-class, the Nimitz, is facing retirement. With the current situation, the US Navy is facing the greatest crisis in its history.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844399096353033/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.