The administration announced a $275 billion plan to build 15 nuclear-powered Trump-class battleships, though shipyards may face capacity challenges.
The administration announced a new plan to construct 15 nuclear-powered Trump-class guided missile battleships, a project with a total price tag of $275 billion. According to a Congressional Budget Office report, the first of these 35,000-ton vessels will cost $23.4 billion, while the subsequent 14 ships will cost $18 billion each. These battleships are designed to be the most heavily armed surface vessels in the U.S. Navy's history, featuring hypersonic weapons, nuclear-tuned cruise missiles, and rail guns. However, the report highlights significant logistical hurdles. The shipbuilding industry currently faces a steep learning curve and may struggle to accommodate the 60 percent increase in large surface combatant tonnage required by 2058. While the first ship's cost was updated from an initial $15.1 billion to $23.4 billion, the transition to nuclear power is expected to reduce long-term operating costs by eliminating fuel purchases. Despite these high upfront costs, the ships will be the largest surface combatants built since World War II.