A US congressional committee expresses concerns that Trump's 'Golden Fleet' programme, particularly the nuclear-powered BBG(X) battleship, may overwhelm the strained US nuclear shipbuilding capacity, prompting a call for a detailed review.
The US Navy revealed a 30-year shipbuilding plan featuring a new class of nuclear-powered battleships, dubbed 'Trump-class' under the BBG(X) program. Up to 15 are planned by 2055, with the first delivery by 2036.
President Trump fired Navy Secretary John Phelan after he failed to produce a plan for a new $17 billion battleship class by 2028. The 'Trump-class' warship was announced in December with advanced weapons including lasers, railguns and hypersonic missiles. Phelan suggested using European shipyards to meet the timeline, but Trump insisted on US construction. Pentagon officials including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth opposed Phelan, who was accused of bypassing the chain of command.
John Phelan sparked tensions within the department over his support for a new battleship.
US President Donald Trump’s long-standing obsession with sea power was underscored by his pledge to rebuild the US Navy into what he called a “Golden Fleet” as he returned to the White House. His financial year 2027 budget released on April 3 puts a price tag on the ambition: US$65.8 billion for 34 warships, including initial funding for a next-generation battleship he wants to name after himself, part of the largest US$1.5 trillion defence-spending request in history. But analysts say the...
