VIDEO: President Trump Quizzes Reagan Carrier CO on EMALS Program

November 23, 2018 10:09 PM
An artist’s conception of the electromagnetic launch systems (EMALS). General Atomics Photo

During a Thanksgiving-greetings call with the crew of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), President Donald Trump posed the question which is better, steam or electromagnetic flight-deck catapults.

Reagan, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), and Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis D. Wilbur (DDG-54) entered Hong Kong Harbor on Wednesday. The call to Reagan was one of several such calls Trump made to different service branch commanders around the world on Thanksgiving Day.

During the exchange with Capt. Pat Hannifin, Reagan’s commanding officer, Trump asked about the condition of the ship and wanted to know how the Nimitz-class Reagan compared with the nation’s newest carrier, the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).

“Sir, the condition of the ship is Alpha 1, A-1,” Hannifin said.

The ceremonial boatswain’s mate and sideboys render honors for Capt. Patrick Hannifin, commanding officer of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) during a September 2018 change of command ceremony aboard the ship. Navy photo.

The size and scope of the two carriers are about the same, he continued. Ford has some technological improvements to the plants, the radars, the catapults.

“Tell me about the catapult,” Trump asked before Hannifin finished his answer. “On Gerald Ford, they don’t use steam which is the first one that I’ve ever heard of that doesn’t use steam. I know they have some difficulties which I’m not happy about, they spent a lot of money. I was just curious, the steam system is tried and true for many, many years, as long as we’ve had aircraft carriers, how do you find steam versus what they’re doing on the Gerald Ford which is electronic and digital if you can believe it.”

Among the technological advances designed for the $13 billion Ford is an advanced arresting gear system and the new electromagnetic aircraft launchers (EMALS) which does not use steam to power the catapults launching aircraft off the flight deck. Without the need to produce steam, the Ford-class reactor design is smaller and more efficient than reactors earlier nuclear aircraft carriers. The Ford-class propulsion system generates three-times as much electricity as what is generated by the Nimitz-class carriers, according to the Navy.

“Yes sir, all of our Nimitz supercarriers have been using steam for decades, and we find pretty reliable. However the electromagnetic catapults they’re running there offer some great benefits,” Hannifin said. “Obviously any new piece you gotta’ work through the bugs, but they offer some benefits, not only to stress and strain on the aircraft to extend service life. I have no doubt we’ll work through that just as we worked through all of our other advancements and continue to bring it to the enemy when we’re called to do so.”

Between Ford’s July 2017 commissioning and July 2018, when the ship entered a year-long post-shakedown availability, Ford completed nearly 750 shipboard aircraft launches and recoveries, nearly double the approximately 400 launches and recoveries initially planned according to the Navy.

During the post-shakedown availability, Ford is receiving EMALS software updates. The EMALS updates will improve the way the system handles launching the heaviest aircraft – Super Hornets and Growlers with fully-loaded external fuel tanks.

“So when you do the new carriers as you do and we’re thinking of doing, would you go steam or would you go with the electromagnetic?” Trump asked. “Steam is very reliable, and the electromagnetic, I mean, unfortunately, you have to be Albert Einstein to work it properly.”

“Yes sir, sir you have to be Albert Einstein to run the nuclear power plants we have here as well, but we’re doing that very well,” Hannifin answered. “Sir, Mr. President I would go electro-magnetic cats, I think that’s the way to go, we do pay a heavy cost to transit the steam around the ship.”

Capt. Patrick Hannifin, shortly before becoming commanding officer of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), prepares to launch in a F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 from the flight deck. Navy photo.

Before becoming Reagan’s commanding officer, Hannifin spent most of his carrier flying fighters. He’s logged more than 2,800 hours flight hours, mostly in F/A-18 Super Hornets. He was also a Navy test pilot, and in 2000 was named the Naval Strike Test Squadron’s Test Pilot of the Year.

“Good, OK, I like to hear that,” Trump responded. “I’m actually happy about that answer because at least they’re doing what they’re doing, but that’s actually a very good answer.”

Ben Werner

Ben Werner

Ben Werner is a staff writer for USNI News. He has worked as a freelance writer in Busan, South Korea, and as a staff writer covering education and publicly traded companies for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., Savannah Morning News in Savannah, Ga., and Baltimore Business Journal. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree from New York University.

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