On Thursday, Trump signed a national security memorandum directing the U.S. Navy to abandon electromagnetic catapult systems on subsequent vessels of the Ford-class carriers in favor of steam catapults. This adjustment will begin with the fourth ship of the class, the USS Doris Miller; the existing Ford, John F. Kennedy, and Enterprise will continue to retain electromagnetic systems. Since the Ford-class hulls were not designed for steam catapult requirements, dismantling and reconfiguring pipelines and internal structures is expected to cost several billion dollars. The memorandum also calls for improvements in submarine maintenance and attracting foreign investment into the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Trump has long advocated reviving steam catapults, arguing that electromagnetic systems are overly complex and unreliable. The White House stated that steam and hydraulic equipment proven in combat are more robust and easier to scale up for industrial production. However, the Navy and defense industry have long opposed reverting to older technologies. In February this year, the Navy said that the electromagnetic catapult and advanced arrestor system on the Ford have already demonstrated the ability to launch and recover aircraft at a higher frequency than the Nimitz-class. Naval experts also pointed out that electrical systems offer higher reliability and lower maintenance costs—contributing in part to the Ford-class's reduction of approximately 500 crew members compared to its predecessor.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873470714635339/
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