906 Aircraft Carrier Catapult Technology

Aircraft carrier catapult systems, Peraton’s performance as the Prime Integrator for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System, the Department of Homeland Security’s luxury jets, Google’s purchase of Spirit Airlines’ data for AI training, American Airlines economy seatback screens, and a Li-ion laptop battery that caught fire in flight. Also, Micah’s first flight, Delta’s requirements for portable chargers, and the real reason they are called bear straps. Aviation News Trump orders Pentagon to redesign US aircraft carrier to use steam catapults to launch jets President Trump signed a national security memorandum directing the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and the acting Navy secretary, Hung Cao, to come up with a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators with steam and hydraulic systems for the construction of the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller. Critics of the change point to the major redesign and expense required. Aircraft Carrier Catapult Technology by Era: Era Technology Key navies 1910s–30s Compressed-air/flywheel catapults (mostly floatplanes) US, UK WWII Hydraulic catapults US, UK 1950s–2010s Steam catapults UK (pioneer), US, France 2010s–present Electromagnetic (EMALS) US, China Throughout No catapults (ski-jump/STOVL) USSR/Russia, Italy, Spain, India, UK (post-1978), current China (Liaoning/Shandong), US Navy Amphibious Assault Ships Arrangement of a hydro-pneumatic catapult in an aircraft carrier. Naval Marine Archive. See also: Why The Ford Class Carrier’s Island Superstructure Is Located So Far Back and Navy considers major aircraft carrier revamp to better suit Trump’s aesthetic. Trump’s FAA picked an unlikely contractor to lead its air traffic overhaul. The agency is having second thoughts. In December 2025, DOT/FAA selected Peraton as Prime Integrator for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), a $1.5 billion contract. Peraton, which had little direct experience working with the FAA, was chosen over Parsons Corp., which has extensive experience with FAA contracts. Peraton is a national-security and government-services contractor owned by Veritas Capital, and is known for its defense, intelligence, and IT/communications work. (Veritas also owns Peraton Labs, the former Bell Labs). Some reports indicate that the FAA is frustrated with Peraton. A source notes that “Peraton has basically not done any work since they got in” and admit