Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and trying to wrap my head around this one – President Donald Trump has decided to scrap the modern electromagnetic launch system on the upcoming aircraft carrier, USS Doris Miller, and go back to the old steam-powered catapult method. Because, you know, who needs progress, right? The directive, outlined in a White House memo and fact sheet, orders Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit a plan to install the catapult systems on the carrier, which is already under construction. I mean, I’ve seen some weird things in my time, but this takes the cake.
I’m reading through the article, and it says that naval experts think this sudden shift is highly unusual. No kidding. The newest US aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was built with an electromagnetic launching system, but the US Navy’s 10 older carriers still use steam-powered catapults. So, we’re going to take a step back and use the old technology instead of the new one that’s proven to be easier to operate and less expensive in terms of personnel and maintenance.
Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, says that the move would require the USS Doris Miller to be redesigned, which will probably cost billions and delay the carrier’s deployment until the late 2030s. And let’s not forget that the electromagnetic system is similar to a high-speed rail train, making it simpler and more efficient. Meanwhile, the steam catapult has a lot more parts, which means more maintenance and more headaches.
I’m also reading that the Navy now faces the logistical issue of finding a manufacturer of steam catapults. Because, you know, nobody makes them anymore. It’s like trying to find a manufacturer of cassette tapes or something. Chris Cavas, a veteran journalist, says that the memo is “very old thinking, very outdated.” And I have to agree with him. It’s like we’re taking a step back in time instead of moving forward.
The USS Doris Miller’s delay, along with the retirements of carriers in the Nimitz class, could mean the US Navy will be very short on carrying capacity next decade. And that’s a problem. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, criticized the memo, saying that even he wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships. And his comment about Donald Trump sticking to what he knows best – ballrooms, bankruptcy, and, well, you know – had me chuckling.
In conclusion, this whole situation is just a big mess. We’re taking a step back in terms of technology, and it’s going to cost us billions. I mean, I’m no expert, but it seems like we should be moving forward, not backward. And as I finish my coffee, I’m left shaking my head and wondering what’s next. Maybe we’ll go back to using carrier pigeons or something – who knows, right? 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
