Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:06:01-3:06:38

Why was CVN-65 not used as an EMALS test ship?

USS Enterprise was physically large enough for electromagnetic-launch testing, but the cost of adapting and operating her made the idea politically unattractive.

Defence SpendingEMALSNaval ProcurementUSS Enterprise (CVN-65)
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Question

Could USS Enterprise (CVN-65) have been used to test EMALS?

Short answer

Physically yes, but adapting and operating her for the test would have been too expensive to attract political support.

Notes

CVN-65 was physically large enough to support EMALS testing, but using her would have cost a great deal. Congress would still have to choose that naval expenditure over other priorities. The proposal therefore failed on affordability and political support rather than available deck space. The answer broadens into a procurement lesson about defence projects competing with more immediately popular domestic programs.