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U.S. Navy Plans To Build 15 Nuclear-Powered Trump-Class Battleships
The U.S. Navy intends to construct 15 Trump-class battleships over 30 years as part of its 2026 shipbuilding plan. The vessels will feature nuclear propulsion and are designed for extended endurance, high speed and advanced weapons systems. The first ship is expected in 2036 as the Navy projects a fleet of 299 warships by 2031.
May 12, 3:26 PM·2m read2 sources
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The U.S. Navy plans to build 15 Trump-class battleships over the next 30 years in what the service described as a major naval project, according to its 2026 shipbuilding plan released Monday. The Trump-class battleships will use nuclear reactors for propulsion.
They will not replace the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, the Navy said. The vessels are intended to operate as part of a high-low mix of naval forces. Rear Adm. Ben Reynolds told reporters in April that the Navy intends to spend $43.5 billion on future battleships over the next five years, USNI News reported.
That funding level implies each ship could cost as much as $14.5 billion. >"The nuclear-powered battleship is designed to provide the fleet with a significant increase in combat power by longer endurance, higher speed, and accommodating advanced weapon systems required for modern warfare," the Navy plan reads.
com) The plan states that the battleship's primary role is to deliver high-volume, long-range offensive fires and to serve as a robust, survivable forward command and control platform. It is not a destroyer replacement.
President Trump announced the ships in December 2025, according to a Navy press release. The U.S.S. Defiant, designated BBG 1, will be the first of the class. All of the ships will form part of the Navy's Golden Fleet initiative. The $43.5 billion projection for the initial five years suggests the Trump-class ships would exceed the $13 billion cost of the U.S.S. Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, Fortune reported.
The first Trump-class battleship is scheduled for delivery in 2036.
