Trump allows Navy to build ships abroad, orders return to steam catapults on carriers

When the Navy selected EMALS in 2009, it said it would lower overall lifecycle costs, require less maintenance than steam catapults and generate less physical stress on carrier-based aircraft. The system, also selected by France’s navy, had initial troubles but has since completed thousands of launches.

General Atomics, the maker of EMALS, said in a statement that the decision not to proceed with the system on the Doris Miller warranted “careful reconsideration”.

“With nearly 50 per cent of production complete, changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks,” General Atomics said.

The Navy referred requests for comment to the White House.

The memo Trump signed also opens up the Navy to having ships made overseas for the first time in decades.

Foreign shipbuilders who have made “substantial and durable investments” in US shipyards “will be temporarily permitted to build up to two ships in their parent shipyards that will be delivered to bridge gaps on a quick turnaround”, to supplement ships built in US shipyards.

Australian shipbuilder Austal said on Tuesday that Hanwha Group had offered to buy its US operations for up to US$1.2 billion as the South Korean conglomerate seeks to expand in the American defence market.