Page 65: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2026)

FORD CLASS CARRIERS

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world's largest aircraft carrier, and Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) sail side-by-side during an ammunition transfer, June 27, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a ? rst-in- class aircraft carrier and deployed ? agship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, incorporates modern technology, innovative shipbuilding designs, and best practices from legacy aircraft carriers to increase the U.S. Navy's capacity to underpin American security and economic prosperity, deter adversaries, and project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky that require catapult launches. Conclusion

The supply chain that existed to provide steam com- The defense industry is reluctant to do an about face, ponents and systems for the defense industry has largely dump EMALS, and revert to steam. But an order is an or- evaporated over the past two decades. But there remains der. And faced with cost overruns and a program plagued a thriving steam ecosystem outside of that perimeter for with delays and setbacks, perhaps a comprise should be steam turbines, boilers, re? neries and district heating. reached – retro? t a simpli? ed steam catapult into remain-

Those vendors have the manufacturing capacity to de- ing Ford-class carriers while continuing EMALS research, liver what the Navy needs. development, and ? eld testing – but outside of the new “Matt’s retro? t design for steam catapults on Ford- carrier arena. class carriers looks feasible and the overall concept is “The carrier program has been beset by severe and per- sound,” said Linn Moedinger, a retired steam engineer sistent diseconomy and reliability issues that have jeopar- with 50 years of experience. “As the design leans on dized the Navy’s ability to defend freedom, preserve eco- currently available components used in other common nomic prosperity, and keep the seas open and free,” said steam systems, this greatly mitigates possible supply Janssen. “Reverting to steam catapults is technically and chain challenges.” economically feasible.” a subsidiary of BioMicrobics, Inc.

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