The Trump administration has announced plans for the largest US surface combatant since World War II: the Trump-class battleship, beginning with two ships and potentially expanding to 20–25 vessels. The 35,000-ton USS Defiant will feature 128 MK-41 VLS cells, Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missiles, five-inch guns, advanced radar, and room for future weapons such as directed energy systems and railguns, according to USNI News. Powered by gas turbines and diesels driving an integrated electrical grid, the ship will exceed 30 knots and support V-22 Osprey and next-generation vertical lift aircraft. Designed for independent operations, carrier strike groups, or surface action groups, Defiant will provide command and control for manned and unmanned platforms. Construction is slated to begin in the early 2030s, with costs estimated at $10–15 billion per ship, and will be carried out in U.S. shipyards supported by robotics to meet workforce demands. The program replaces the DDG(X) and reflects a major overhaul of Navy acquisition plans, emphasizing large, multi-role surface combatants capable of fielding advanced missile and combat systems. They write:

The centerpiece of the Trump administration’s revamp of the U.S. Navy is the largest surface combatant America will build since World War II.

The U.S. Navy will buy two new “battleships” as part of the “Golden Fleet” effort, President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump said the Navy will start by purchasing two ships and eventually purchase 10, with a goal of 20 to 25 in total for the class with the start of construction planned for 2030. […]

When asked if the new ship class is meant to counter China, Trump said: “It’s a counter to everybody. It’s not China.” The new ships will replace the Navy’s next-generation DDG(X) program, which was projected to be about half the size of this proposed battleship. Construction is slated to begin in the early 2030s with the Navy serving as the lead design agent for the effort, USNI News understands. The Navy first unveiled the DDG(X) concept in 2022.

Like the DDG(X) program, the new ships will feature existing combat systems and weapons in use on the Flight III Arleigh Burke DDG-51 guided-missile destroyers. They will field the AN/SPY-6 air search radar, 128 MK-41 vertical launch system cells, 12 Conventional Prompt Strike long-range hypersonic missiles and five-inch guns, two sources familiar with the plans told USNI News. The design will also leave margin to add additional weapons, including directed energy, the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile and potentially a 32 Megajoule rail gun, according to Navy data. […]

In the current fleet, the Zumwalt class at 15,000 tons is the largest surface combatant. The Navy proposed building a 20,000-ton guided-missile cruiser – the CG(X) – but the Obama administration cancelled the program in 2010 due to cost and schedule reasons. Instead, the Navy elected to build the Flight III Arleigh Burkes.

Over the years the Navy has struggled to move forward with its DDG(X) program, a planned follow-on to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Planned purchase and construction timelines for DDG(X) were delayed several times as the Navy racked up bills for current ship classes and the development of new programs like the next-generation attack submarine and the sixth-generation fighter.

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