France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces has said that US President Donald Trump’s decision to return to steam catapults on the future USS Doris Miller will not jeopardize the electromagnetic launch systems planned for France’s next aircraft carrier.
“No particular technical or industrial risk has been identified,” the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP on August 15, 2026, when asked about both the manufacture of the catapults for France Libre and their maintenance over the coming decades.
The ministry noted that the first three Gerald R. Ford-class carriers retain the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). USS Gerald R. Ford is already operational, while the future John F. Kennedy and Enterprise are under construction.
“These systems are developed and operational,” the ministry said, adding that the associated manufacturing and maintenance chain therefore remains active. France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) is discussing the issue with its US counterparts as they conduct their own assessments, it added.
Trump order targets fourth Ford-class carrier
Trump signed a presidential memorandum on August 13, 2026, giving the Pentagon 60 days to prepare a plan to replace EMALS and the Advanced Weapons Elevators aboard CVN-81 with steam and hydraulic systems.
The decision affects the fourth Ford-class carrier, USS Doris Miller, which is already under construction at HII Newport News Shipbuilding. General Atomics previously said production of its launch-and-recovery equipment for the ship was approaching the halfway point, warning that a redesign would entail cost, schedule, and integration risks.
The memorandum does not alter the configuration of the first three Ford-class vessels or directly address foreign customers.
USS Doris Miller is expected to be delivered in the early 2030s, giving the US Navy several years to implement or reconsider the proposed redesign.
French EMALS procurement already underway
France Libre, previously known as the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération (PANG), is designed around three EMALS launch tracks and an associated AAG system. The nuclear-powered carrier is due to replace Charles de Gaulle in 2038.
In February 2026, the US Navy awarded General Atomics a $43.35 million contract modification to advance the French configuration through its critical design review, scheduled for completion in January 2028.
A further $23.4 million contract followed in March 2026 for long-lead EMALS and AAG materials and technical data supporting production of the future French carrier.
At roughly 310 meters long and displacing around 78,000 tonnes, France Libre will be substantially larger than Charles de Gaulle. Its launch system must accommodate Rafale M fighters, airborne early warning aircraft and future crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft across a wider range of launch weights.
France keeps a sovereign alternative under study
The reassurance from the ministry addresses the availability of the US technology, but not whether a smaller US Navy EMALS fleet could eventually increase France’s support costs.
French lawmakers had already moved to hedge that dependency before Trump issued his memorandum. An amendment adopted during the 2026 update of the military programming law requires a feasibility study into developing a sovereign French electromagnetic catapult system.
The study does not replace the General Atomics equipment selected for France Libre. It is intended to assess the opportunities and cost of establishing a domestic capability, potentially providing an alternative for later requirements or a second French carrier.