On August 13, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum directing the Pentagon to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on the future carrier USS Doris Miller with steam catapults, and to replace its Advanced Weapons Elevators with hydraulic systems.
The future USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) is under construction by HII Newport News Shipbuilding, with its keel expected to be laid by the end of 2026 and delivery scheduled for early 2034. Active and other under-construction carriers in the Gerald R. Ford class remain unaffected.
EMALS contractor General Atomics warned that altering course with production almost 50% complete warrants reconsideration due to cost, schedule, and integration risks. Analysts also noted that the Navy has not purchased steam catapults in over 20 years, indicating a potentially withered supply chain.
