The National Interest is reporting the Navy has awarded contracts related to the installation of electromagnetic aircraft catapults in future aircraft carriers in apparent defiance of President Donald Trump’s August memo ordering all future ships, including those under construction, to have steam-powered launch and recovery systems. The USS Gerald Ford has been operational with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System since 2022 and nine more will be built. Trump has long criticized the electromagnetic system, and in the same memo he ordered the aircraft elevators to revert to hydraulic systems instead of the electric lifts designed for the Ford Class ships. The new boats also have the command and control island near the rear of the ship to improve the efficiency of the deck, and Trump asked that future ships have the island moved closer to the middle of the deck as earlier designs did. The Navy said they’d look into that but there’s no indication that the costly redesign has been implemented.
Earlier problems with the electromagnetic systems seemed to be the source of Trump’s dislike for them. The new systems had some teething pains but they’ve apparently been fixed. The Ford now routinely records about 160 sorties every 12 hours using the electromagnetic catapults compared to 120 aircraft launched by Nimitz class carriers and their steam catapults. The difference is the 45 second recharge time of the electric model compared to several minutes to rebuild steam pressure in the old systems. The electric catapults can also be adjusted for the weight of each aircraft and accelerate them more smoothly, saving wear and tear on the aircraft. The steam systems also require huge amounts of water, which must be put through the ship’s desalination system.
Finally, someone is simply ignoring his rants and doing what makes sense.
Trump is an expert in this subject, so he should be obeyed.
Does he think the steam catapults are coal powered?
Well, with all due respect, Trump did say “nobody knows more about steam than me”.
Sad part is SECNAV will be relieved, then the next, and the next until someone follows this idiotic “order”.
Probably accurate statement. Are we witnessing government by campaign contribution? Did the steam-powered launch and recovery systems manufacturers and the hydraulic aircraft elevator system manufacturers get his attention with a promise thereof?
Trump simply likes to rant as a means of attention getting and/or distraction. You know, like a small child. SECNAV may have realized that by quietly ignoring Trump, like a small child, Trump loses interest and move on to the next shiny thing.
The steam catapults were adjustable for the weights of the aircraft launched. They had to be otherwise the launch would damage the aircraft. We launched as fast as we could get an aircraft to the cat and get the launch bar hooked up to the shuttle. The steam cats required lots of maintenance and hence lots of personnel in the V2 division. Technology marches forward but not without teething pains.
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I’m no expert on steam catapults, but if their dynamics are similar to other steam powered pistons, their greatest power, causing the greatest rate of acceleration, probably occurs at the beginning of the stroke, and (I presume) may decline somewhat by the end. Electromagnetic catapults (on which I am also no expert) could conceivably be configured to vary the acceleration force anywhere along its track, thus beginning with a more “gentle” start and increasing the force as the stroke progresses. If so, that would certainly reduce the stress on the airframe.
Modern steam cats have progressive introduction of gas but your assumption is correct generally speaking and you can absolutely feel the difference between the two. Old cats feel like they’re going to rip the NW off the jet with the initial hit
Yet another example of “I’m The King” behavior we’ve all come to recognize and despise. I am curious to know how far up the Navy chain of command the decision to ignore Trump’s was made? Which officer was willing to stick his or her head out to knowingly disobey a Presidential Directive aimed directly at his/her branch of the service? He/She should be a hero.
Greater Sortie generation, less wear and tear of the airplane and pilots is a huge improvement. Steam only gave you a targeted end speed +/- x%. I am told EMALS will exact speeds that are dialed in.
I have 900+ steam cat shots.
MSGA – Make Steam Great Again!
Yet another perfect example of my now ancient axiom, “The boss doesn’t like the soup until he pisses in it.”
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Very pithy comment!
Any Flag/SECNAV that can’t “slow-roll” a dumb Presidential order for 2 years did not deserve his or her stars or Senate confirmation. DJT is not the first to be rescued from a poorly informed decision and most certainly will not be the last.