US aircraft carriers moving to old technology on Trump's orders

US President Donald Trump has signed a national security memorandum calling for the abandonment of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and a return to steam catapults on US aircraft carriers.

The decision also affects the fourth aircraft carrier of the Gerald R. Ford class, Doris Miller, writes Reuters.

The change is expected to cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, while it could cause problems with integration and construction schedules, as production of the EMALS system is already almost 50 percent complete.

According to Pentagon documents, by March 2026, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford had conducted 36,863 launches with the EMALS system.

Trump has criticized EMALS as an overly complex and expensive system. Meanwhile, its manufacturer, General Atomics, has called for the decision to change the system to be reconsidered.

Trump's memorandum also envisions the possibility for the US Navy to temporarily build up to two ships outside the US, in case foreign builders have significant investments in the country.

It also orders the creation of a fifth US naval shipyard to increase the maintenance capacity of submarines and aircraft carriers. /Telegraph/