U.S. Navy Weighs Ford-Class Redesign Costing Billions to Match Trump's Preferred Carrier Look
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Aug 17
U.S. Navy Weighs Ford-Class Redesign Costing Billions to Match Trump's Preferred Carrier Look
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Aug 17
Summary
Seven current and former U.S. officials told The Washington Post the Navy is studying whether to move the Ford-class carrier island forward toward midship to satisfy Trump's objections to the ships' appearance.
Billions of dollars could be at stake because officials said the change has no practical operational rationale and would be highly disruptive to ships already built around the current layout.
Trump has repeatedly said since September that he dislikes the aesthetics of some Navy ships and has claimed he personally influenced hull design to make vessels more "gorgeous."
The review follows another Trump push on carrier design: replacing electromagnetic launch systems with older steam catapults, a switch Navy officials reportedly oppose.
The episode highlights how presidential preferences are shaping costly naval procurement decisions even without an engineering or military design case for the changes.