Mentioned:United States Navy
The Navy has completed a plan to replace the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced weapons elevators on USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with legacy steam and hydraulic systems following a Trump administration directive. The plan was submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget for presidential review.
What's happening
- Navy finished detailed plan replacing EMALS and advanced weapons elevators on CVN-81 Doris Miller with legacy steam and hydraulic systems per Trump's August 13 national security memorandum.
- Plan delivered to White House Office of Management and Budget for presidential submission and decision.
Why it matters
- EMALS and advanced weapons elevators represent core modernization of Gerald Ford-class design; reverting to steam systems signals potential major redesign affecting production schedule and supply chain.
- Plan implementation would require supplier coordination for legacy system components and revalidation of carrier integration and testing protocols.
Going deeper
- CVN-81 Doris Miller is newest Gerald Ford-class carrier in production; design substitutions at this stage typically cascade across remaining units in the class.
The intrigue
- Replacing unproven EMALS technology with proven steam catapults trades operational confidence for modernization goals, raising questions about long-term carrier fleet capability standards.
The fine print
- Plan remains under White House review; no final decision or implementation timeline disclosed.
- Terms and scope of system replacement undisclosed; full cost impact and production schedule effects unknown.
Source: insidedefense.com · Oct 22, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
