Navy Weighs Major Carrier Redesign as Trump Pushes Classic American Warship Look

The U.S. Navy is studying whether to move the command tower on its newest aircraft carriers forward toward the middle of the ship, a redesign that would give the Ford-class fleet the classic profile of America's storied World War II carriers. The review comes after President Donald Trump pushed the service to restore the traditional look of American warships, according to seven current and former U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The evaluation is in its early stages, but it is already one of the most significant design questions the Navy has faced in decades.

It is also not the only change Trump has ordered. A national security memorandum issued this week directs the Navy to abandon the high-tech electromagnetic catapults on future carriers in favor of proven steam systems. Together, the moves signal a White House determined to rebuild the fleet around the strength, reliability, and heritage that made the U.S. Navy the most powerful force on earth.

Restoring the Classic American Carrier Profile

The multistory tower that serves as a carrier's command center, known as the island, sits near the rear of the Ford-class ships. Moving it forward toward the middle of the vessel would make the carriers resemble the flattops that dominated the Pacific in World War II, a look Trump has made clear he prefers.

The Navy examined the same idea during Trump's first term, and a study at the time found that relocating the island would cost billions of dollars and significantly delay the program. "It came back that the cost and time to do so would just be extraordinary," a former senior U.S. official said.

The island was positioned at the rear of modern carriers for practical reasons. The layout creates more parking space for aircraft near the catapults, speeds up launch cycles, and improves landing safety by reducing turbulence on final approach. Moving it would touch all of those operations, which is why the service is weighing the change carefully rather than rushing it.

Proven Technology Over Unproven Systems

The redesign review follows Trump's directive to strip the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, from the upcoming USS Doris Miller and revert to steam catapults, while replacing advanced elevators with hydraulic systems. Defense officials have 60 days to deliver a plan laying out the timeline and costs.

EMALS was one of the most expensive and troubled elements of the Ford program, dogged by reliability problems since the lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, joined the fleet after years of delays and cost overruns. Navy leaders are taking the directive seriously, with officials cautioning that the conversion could cost billions and take years of redesign and replumbing work below deck.

The stakes are enormous. The Navy plans to build up to 10 Ford-class carriers over the next four decades at roughly $22 billion apiece, and the class will form the backbone of American power projection for generations. Getting the design right, and keeping costs under control, is a matter of national consequence.

What to Watch Next

Analysts warn that moving the island would be a major redesign with ripple effects across flight operations, and the Navy has not committed to the change. Current and former officials say the review could take time, and any decision would face scrutiny over cost and schedule in Congress.

The 60-day plan on the catapult reversal is due to the White House in the coming weeks and will offer the first concrete look at what the changes mean for shipyard timelines and the defense budget.

Supporters of the president's approach say restoring the classic lines and proven systems of American carriers is a return to what made the U.S. Navy dominant. The episode reflects a broader push to rebuild American sea power around strength, reliability, and the heritage of the fleet, and the next few months will show how far that vision reaches.