Navy weighs major redesign of aircraft carriers to match Trump's preferences - report

The Navy is evaluating moving the multistory tower that serves as the carrier's command center, known as the "island," from the rear toward the middle of the ship to resemble older vessels, in response to Trump's concerns about the "look" of the Ford-class ships, wanting new carriers to resemble those in service during World War II. This is according to seven current and former US officials familiar with the matter who spoke with the Washington Post.

The Navy previously examined relocating the island during Trump's first term, with a study finding the move could cost billions of dollars and significantly delay the program. A former senior official said, "It came back that the cost and time to do so would just be extraordinary." Three current and former officials said the island was originally moved to the rear for efficiency and safety reasons, creating more parking space for aircraft near the catapults and improving landing safety by reducing turbulence.

The review would be the second major design change prompted by Trump. The President issued a national security memorandum on Thursday directing the Navy to develop a plan reverting to older steam-powered catapults on future carriers, moving away from the class's electromagnetic launch system.

Bryan Clark, a former Navy officer who studies the service at the Hudson Institute, told the Washington Post that relocating the island would be "a major redesign" that would affect the ship's buoyancy and weight, adding, "You could change it, but it's very disruptive."

There are currently three Ford-class carriers in various stages of development: the USS John F. Kennedy, which is undergoing sea trials, while the USS Enterprise and USS Doris Miller are under construction. Plans call for building up to 10 Ford-class carriers over four decades, at a projected cost of $22 billion each, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Navy's most recent shipbuilding plan.

One US official said the Navy is taking both potential changes seriously given the delays and cost overruns they could create.

Trump has increasingly asserted influence over naval shipbuilding decisions since returning to office, including his earlier proposal for a new class of "Golden Fleet" battleships. The CBO estimated that project could cost about $275 billion over 30 years.