The U.S. Navy will take delivery of new-build battleships, the largest in modern existence, in an announcement from President Trump in Florida.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, were all in attendance for the President’s announcement declaring a new class of battleships under the ‘Golden Fleet’ initiative, an effort designed to restore American shipbuilding. All four gave remarks during the announcement emphasizing the need for the new battleship class.
The ships, named after President Donald Trump as the Trump-class, will be 30-40,000 ton warships surpassing the largest surface combatants in service today, including the largest existing Russian Navy Kirov-class nuclear-powered battlecruiser. A rendering of the lead ship, the USS Defiant, features large SPY-6 radar arrays, lasers firing at targets out of view, and at least 100 VLS cells, all equipped on a historically large hull.
“We’re desperately in need of ships, and I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin construction of two large battleships. We used to build the Iowa, the Missouri, the Alabama. These will be 100 times the force and power. Each one of these will be the largest battleships built in the history of our country.”
U.S. President Donald Trump during the USS Defiant announcement
Trump-class Battleships / USS Defiant Design
Renderings show USS Defiant built with an integrated superstructure and several remote weapon systems, as well as an unidentified gun system similar in appearance to the Zumwalt-class 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS). The gun appears to be a railgun, which President Trump confirmed would be equipped on the ships.
At least four Block III SEWIP electronic attack systems, all integrated into the superstructure, are visible, providing electronic attack and deception against incoming missiles. In higher resolution renderings provided to Naval News by the U.S. Navy, two 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile launchers are visible amidships on the port and starboard side, with a VLS bank in the center barely visible.
The three vertical launch cell banks will be capable of firing a mix of standard Mark 41 VLS missiles, including Tomahawks and Standard Missiles shown in renderings, with a single larger bank farthest towards the bow capable of firing Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles currently being fitted to the Zumwalt-class ships at Huntington Ingalls Industries Pascagoula.
“The [design] started with me in my first term. These will be 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built before.”
U.S. President Donald Trump during the USS Defiant announcement
The renderings show two Mark 45 5-inch cannons towards the bow on the starboard and port side, with a large number of VLS cells behind the guns. Forward are larger VLS cells, similar to what is seen on the Zumwalt-class to fire CPS missiles. The cells could also be similar to Lockheed Martin’s Growth VLS (G-VLS), a larger size VLS cell for future growth and multi-pack potential for existing missiles.
Ahead of the larger diameter hypersonic VLS bank, which is shown launching a hypersonic missile, is an unidentified gun closely resembling a railgun. General Atomics recently pitched railguns for air and missile defense, highlighting design advancements that solve the previous barrel wear concerns. President Trump confirmed the ship will be armed with railguns during his statement.
President Trump also confirmed the ships will be armed with the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile – Nuclear (SLCM-N) nuclear-tipped cruise missile being developed for the fleet, adding a new element of the nuclear triad to the surface force.
President Trump and Secretary of the Navy Phelan declared the class as future flagships of the U.S. Navy serving as fleet command platforms for admirals.
The White House also emphasized the importance of these ships for the revival of American shipbuilding. Two ships have been approved for construction, with ten planned in the long term. Up to 25 could be built according to President Trump, at a fast pace with support from industry investments.
“We’ll be meeting with [primes] to discuss production schedules. The only way they’ll be able to do that is with new shipyards.”
U.S. President Donald Trump during the USS Defiant announcement
The President also announced intentions for Hanwha to partner with domestic industry partners to build the newly announced FF(X) frigates for the U.S. Navy, as well as investments into sailor housing, delay mitigations, and production rates. FF(X) replaced Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s Constellation-class guided missile frigate.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan discussed developments with Admiral Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, and Admiral Sam Paparo, INDOPACOM commander.
“The Iowa-class was designed to go on the attack with the biggest guns. Today, the USS Defiant will reach out and kill the archers. Defiant has the size and the capacity to serve fleet commanders, and this new battleship will command everything from warships to drones, and everything in between.”
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan
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