The U.S. Navy has announced that the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), the fourth ship of the Gerald R. Ford class, will use steam-powered catapults instead of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to launch combat aircraft from the flight deck…
The first three Gerald R. Ford-class carriers utilize EMALS, which relies on electromagnetic energy to launch aircraft from the flight deck.
The Navy originally selected the EMALS system in 2009, citing advantages such as lower costs, reduced maintenance requirements, and decreased physical stress on aircraft.
Compared with steam-powered catapults, EMALS enables heavier aircraft to be launched at a higher sortie rate while reducing mechanical stress on the aircraft.
Construction of the USS Doris Miller is scheduled to begin in 2026, with a planned launch in 2029 and commissioning in 2034.
The U.S. Navy plans to build a total of 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers under the Gerald R. Ford program.
Gerald R. Ford-class carriers measure approximately 333 meters in length and 78 meters in beam, with a full-load displacement of roughly 100,000 tons.
Powered by a nuclear propulsion system, these carriers can accommodate more than 75 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
Steam-powered catapult systems offer lower technical risk and more predictable maintenance requirements, as they are a long-established and operationally proven technology…