The change comes after significant investment in EMALS and as the Navy faces pressure to expand its fleet while addressing shipbuilding delays and personnel shortages. General Atomics, which manufactures EMALS, has warned that changing the system on the Doris Miller after production has already begun could create substantial cost, scheduling and integration problems. The directive gives the Pentagon two months to develop a plan for replacing the electromagnetic launch and weapons-elevator systems, while the three Ford-class carriers already built or further along in construction will retain their current technology.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, The Guardian and U.S. Navy records.