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The US Navy's Nuclear Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Redesign Might Cripple New F/A ...
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Fusion42 · 24 August 2026 · Fusion42 review
US President Donald Trump has ordered two major design changes to the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers: abandoning the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS) in favor of the older steam-powered catapult, and relocating the carrier island amidships. These changes risk increasing costs, delaying construction, and could limit the operational capabilities of future 6th generation F/A-XX fighters aboard the carriers.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Defense Tech.
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Trump’s redesign demands will stall and inflate Ford-class carrier builds, creating supply chain gaps for systems supporting next-gen fighters. If you work with naval aviation tech or shipbuilding, urgent reallocation and risk management are needed.
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1 source · 24 Aug 2026
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