Trump urges Navy to revisit carrier launch system and island placement
President Trump has urged the U.S. Navy to consider replacing the electromagnetic aircraft launch system on the future Ford‑class carrier USS Doris Miller with legacy steam catapults and to move the ship’s command island toward the centre of the hull. The Navy has opened an internal review to assess the engineering effort, man‑hours and financial impact of such changes. Industry experts warn that the carrier is already halfway through EMALS installation and that a redesign could add billions of dollars and push back the ship’s entry into service. The debate unfolds as the United States remains engaged in hostilities with Iran, raising concerns about carrier readiness and cost.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 70m later
Why it matters
Potential redesign could increase costs and delay a key warship at a time when the Navy is needed for ongoing operations.
How this story developed
- Aug 12 Sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln Face Rising Suicide Attempts Amid Prolonged Iran Conflict
- Aug 15 The George Washington departed Da Nang for the Middle East to replace the Lincoln.
- Aug 15 The carrier is scheduled to return home after a 266‑day deployment.
- Aug 16 CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper lauded the resilience of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s sailors after a 260-day deployment, but warned that not all issues aboard are resolved.
- Aug 17 The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold suffered an engineering failure that knocked out power for four days, leaving its crew without toilets, galley, air-conditioning and some drinking water in the South China Sea.
- Aug 17 Admiral Brad Cooper toured the carrier amid the controversy.
- Aug 17 The Navy announced that the carrier will begin its return voyage.
- Aug 18 Admiral Cooper’s inspection was followed by lawmakers asserting that problems on the carrier still exist.
- Aug 18 President Trump publicly dismissed allegations of a mental‑health crisis and poor conditions aboard the carrier.
- Aug 18 The decision to move USS George Washington to the Middle East leaves the western Pacific without a carrier.
- Aug 18 Support ships delivered meals and helped the Benfold reach the Philippines for repairs.
- Aug 19 Democratic members of Congress formally requested a review of conditions aboard the carrier.
- Aug 19 Analysts note that the carriers will likely require extensive maintenance, potentially keeping both strike groups out of the Indo‑Pacific for more than 18 months.
- Aug 20 Navy launches internal study to evaluate the workload and cost of the proposed redesign.
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