Trump wants US Navy's carriers to use Cold War-era steam catapults

Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the U.S. Navy’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), labeling it “stupid electric” and advocating for a return to traditional Cold War-era steam catapults. During a visit aboard the USS George Washington in Japan, Trump argued that EMALS is expensive, unreliable, and difficult to repair, contrasting it with steam catapults that he claims can be fixed with simple tools. Despite these criticisms, EMALS represents a significant technological advancement, using linear induction motors to launch aircraft more smoothly and efficiently, reducing airframe stress, and enabling the launch of lighter aircraft such as drones. Trump’s remarks come amid China’s recent demonstration of its own electromagnetic catapult technology aboard its newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which conducted successful sea trials launching advanced aircraft including stealth fighters and early warning planes. The U.S. and China are currently the only nations operating or testing electromagnetic launch systems, with the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford