The Trump administration orders the U.S. Navy to move away from newer aircraft launch systems and return to older steam catapults, according to reporting from The Independent and Yahoo UK. The change is described as part of a longer-running push dating back to at least 2017.
The articles frame the decision as an attempt to shift procurement and modernization priorities toward steam-based launch technology. They also raise concerns about costs and the operational implications of reversing course on systems the Navy has been developing and installing.
While both outlets report the order and link it to the administration’s earlier position, they differ mainly in emphasis. The Independent highlights the order as reflecting an extended “obsession” with the technology and warns it could cost billions. Yahoo UK focuses on the fact of the order and the implications of returning to steam catapults, without adding substantially different details in the provided excerpt.
