What Happened
Paris Sees No Risk to Electromagnetic Launch System Plans
France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces has stated that the US decision to revert to steam catapults on the future USS Doris Miller will not impact the electromagnetic launch systems planned for France’s next aircraft carrier, France Libre. The ministry noted that the first three Gerald R. Ford-class carriers will retain the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), and that the associated manufacturing and maintenance chain remains active. France is already discussing the issue with its US counterparts and is also studying the feasibility of developing a sovereign French electromagnetic catapult system. The development was first reported by AeroTime.