Trump-class warships: A plan to bolster the US Navy.
US President Donald Trump announced his involvement in designing a new class of warships weighing over 30,000 tons, equipped with large-caliber cannons, nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, and artificial intelligence technology, serving as the core of an expanded Golden Fleet.
US President Donald Trump announced plans to launch a new class of warships called the "Trump class," described as significantly larger, faster, and more powerful than existing vessels, and to become the centerpiece of an expanded Golden Fleet aimed at bolstering US naval dominance. Trump stated that he would personally participate in the design process of these ships.
Overview of the Trump-class warship project and the Golden Fleet
According to Reuters, the Trump-class warships will become the centerpiece of the expanding Golden Fleet. The project began with the first two warships, and the long-term goal is to increase the number to approximately 20–25 vessels. The first ship of this class is expected to be named USS Defiant.
The new class of ships is described as weighing over 30,000 tons, larger than the current destroyers of the US Navy. With this size, the Trump class is positioned in the heavy surface ship group, carrying greater firepower and more weapon systems and sensors than smaller designs.
President Trump emphasized that he had previously criticized the exterior design of some US warships and that this time he would be directly involved in the design process, indicating that the project focuses not only on combat capabilities but also on overall shape and layout.
Weapon specifications and configurations have been released.
Detailed technical specifications for the Trump-class ships have not yet been fully released, but the main points that have been mentioned include:
| Characteristic | The information has been provided. |
|---|---|
| Displacement | Over 30,000 tons, larger than the current destroyers of the US Navy. |
| Role in the fleet | The focus of the expanding Golden Fleet |
| Technology | Equipped with the most advanced technology, including artificial intelligence. |
| Gunboat | "The biggest guns" ever fitted to a U.S. warship. |
| Missile | Sea-launched cruise missiles, equipped with nuclear warheads. |
U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan said these warships will be equipped with the largest guns ever seen on a U.S. warship. This indicates that the Trump-class ships are designed to have very powerful naval artillery firepower, suitable for surface attack missions and long-range fire support.
In addition to naval guns, Trump-class ships also carry sea-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. The combination of large-caliber guns with nuclear cruise missiles indicates that this class of ship aims for multi-layered attack capabilities, from conventional warfare to strategic deterrence.
Mr. Phelan also emphasized the technological aspect, stating that the new class of ships will be equipped with the most advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. The integration of AI will likely serve functions such as decision support, sensor coordination, and operational optimization, although specific details have not yet been revealed.
Organizing production and mobilizing the national defense industry.
U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan said that components of the Trump-class warships will be manufactured in every U.S. state. This allocation reflects the goal of broadly mobilizing defense industry capabilities nationwide, while also creating a political and industrial foundation for a long-term program involving a large number of ships.
In addition to the new class of warships, the Golden Fleet also plans to increase the number of other types of vessels, including the smaller and more maneuverable frigates that the US Navy has previously announced. This indicates a plan that focuses not only on heavy warships but also expands into the smaller vessel segment, increasing deployment flexibility.
President Trump said that expanding the navy would come with new pressure on defense contractors to accelerate production and control costs. He plans to meet with major defense companies next week to discuss these demands.
Cost pressures, deadlines, and modernization targets.
President Trump and the Pentagon have complained about the high cost, slowness, and conservatism of the American defense industry. Against this backdrop, the Trump-class ships and the Golden Fleet project are expected to bring about changes in manufacturing organization, aiming to make the production of war equipment more flexible.
The application of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, along with the need to control costs and shorten timelines, shows that this program is not just about adding firepower to the fleet, but also a test of the reform capabilities of the US defense industry.
From a combat perspective, the combination of a displacement of over 30,000 tons, large-caliber gunboats, and nuclear-tipped cruise missiles places the Trump-class ships as key firepower units of the Golden Fleet. They can undertake a variety of missions at sea, from attacking surface targets and supporting shore forces to strategic deterrence.
However, aside from the main points already announced, detailed specifications regarding the radar system, air defense configuration, missile defense capabilities, and combat control system of the Trump-class ships have not yet been revealed. Therefore, the specific combat capabilities of this class of ships compared to existing surface vessels of the US Navy still require further official data.
Based on what has been announced, the new Trump-class warships are designed as a high-tech and firepower platform, a cornerstone of the expanded Golden Fleet plan, aimed at strengthening U.S. naval dominance in the coming years.
