Trump orders Navy to study steam catapults after mysterious sailor's advice
President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Navy to assess the cost and timeline for reinstalling steam catapults on the future carrier CVN 81, after a brief encounter with an unnamed sailor who championed the older technology.
In August, President Trump issued a national security memorandum ordering the Navy to determine the cost and schedule for installing steam catapults and hydraulic elevators on the upcoming carrier CVN 81, expected to join the fleet in 2034. The move traces back to a brief conversation with an unnamed sailor, referred to as Bill Jones, who praised steam launchers as easy to repair compared with the newer electromagnetic systems.
Navy leaders have highlighted that steam catapults have not been built since the USS George H.W. Bush and that parts are no longer manufactured, making a retrofit a complex, expensive undertaking. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle noted that a recent stress test showed the electromagnetic launchers outperforming their steam counterparts.
Analysts warn that reverting could hamper future combat capabilities and allow rivals such as China to gain a technological edge. Despite the challenges, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao affirmed that the debate is closed and the Navy must now produce an implementation plan. The episode illustrates how a single sailor’s comment may have sparked a potential multibillion-dollar shift in U.S. carrier design.
Why it matters
The decision could reshape U.S. carrier technology and cost billions, affecting naval readiness and strategic balance.
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