Trump announces plans for a new Navy warship and ‘Golden Fleet’ : NPR

WASHINGTON — President Trump has revealed plans for the Navy to construct a new, large warship that he has dubbed a “battleship” as part of his vision to establish a “Golden Fleet.”

“They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump declared during the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

According to Trump, the ship, to be named the USS Defiant, will surpass the size and capabilities of the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships, armed with advanced technologies such as hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers — all currently in various stages of development by the Navy.

The unveiling follows the Navy’s decision to scrap plans for a new, smaller warship due to delays and cost overruns, opting instead for a modified Coast Guard cutter. The Navy has faced challenges in delivering its new ship designs, like the Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, on schedule and within budget.

Despite Trump’s claims, the Navy has encountered difficulties in deploying some of the technologies envisioned for the new ship.

The Navy invested significant resources over many years in developing a ship-mounted railgun, only to abandon the project in 2021.

Laser technology has made progress in being integrated into Navy vessels, albeit with limited applications. One laser system designed to disable drone sensors is operational on eight destroyers after an eight-year development process.

Efforts to develop nuclear cruise missiles for ship deployment may raise concerns regarding treaty compliance with Russia.

An anonymous U.S. official revealed that design work has commenced for the new ship, with construction scheduled to begin in the early 2030s.

Trump and Navy Secretary John Phelan likened the new Trump-class warship to the battleships of the 20th century, though historically the term referred to heavily armored vessels armed with large guns for naval and shore bombardment.

Battleships saw prominence during World War II, with the largest U.S. battleships, the Iowa-class, weighing approximately 60,000 tons. However, the role of battleships in modern fleets diminished post-WWII in favor of aircraft carriers and long-range missiles. The four modernized Iowa-class battleships were decommissioned by the 1990s.

As per the new “Golden Fleet” website, the upcoming “guided missile battleship” is expected to be similar in size to the Iowa-class but with a reduced weight of around 35,000 tons and a smaller crew of 650 to 850 sailors. Its primary armaments will consist of missiles rather than naval guns.

Trump has expressed strong views on Navy fleet components, sometimes advocating for retaining older technologies over modernization efforts.

During his presidency, he urged the return to steam-powered catapults for aircraft carrier operations instead of the newer electromagnetic system.

He has also criticized the appearance of Navy destroyers and lamented vessels covered in rust.

Phelan recounted instances of Trump contacting him late at night regarding ship conditions and design preferences.

During a shipyard visit in 2020, Trump claimed to have influenced the design of a frigate project that was later canceled.

He asserted his intention to play a direct role in shaping the new warship’s design.

Phelan described the USS Defiant as a vessel that will command respect and admiration for the American flag on foreign shores.