The United States has announced plans to develop a new class of battleships for its Navy, dubbed the “Golden Fleet.” President Donald Trump revealed the initiative, stating that the new fleet will be “100 times more powerful” than any battleship ever built. The announcement was made at Mar-a-Lago, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan in attendance.
The new battleships will be larger than the WWII-era Iowa-class ships and will be equipped with advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and lasers. According to Trump, the Navy plans to procure the first ship in 2030, with plans to build up to 25 ships in total. The development of the new fleet is part of a broader expansion of the US Navy, which will include both manned and unmanned ships.
US officials have warned that the country is currently trailing China in terms of shipbuilding capacity and output. When asked if the new warships were intended as a counter to China, Trump declined to single out Beijing, stating that the new fleet is a counter to all potential threats.
The announcement comes as the US has increased its operations in the Caribbean, with the Coast Guard targeting oil tankers linked to Venezuela. The US Navy has also been active in the Red Sea, responding to attacks on commercial shipping linked to regional conflicts. The development of the new fleet is seen as a response to the growing need for advanced naval capabilities, with Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle stating that the requirement for more capable warships is “undeniable.”
The US Navy has recently faced challenges with its Ford-class carriers and Columbia-class submarines, and had to cancel a smaller warship project due to delays and cost overruns. The new battleship project aims to address these challenges and provide the US Navy with the advanced capabilities it needs to maintain its position as a global naval power. With the first ship set to be procured in 2030, the development of the new fleet is expected to be a major focus for the US Navy in the coming years.
