President Donald Trump has announced that the US will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy 'battleships' named after himself, as part of a revamped 'Golden Fleet'.
Construction on the Trump Class USS Defiant ships, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump stating they will be operational in two-and-a-half years.
The announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy by President Trump, encompassing both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller vessels.
Officials have warned that the US currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and overall output.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida alongside defence officials, Trump announced the approval of two initial battleships, with a plan to build up to 25 in total. 'They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,' he claimed.
The ships are projected to carry hypersonic and highly lethal weapons, aiming to be the flagships of the US Navy. Trump emphasized that these vessels would be constructed domestically, promising the creation of thousands of jobs.
In discussions with the Wall Street Journal, Navy Secretary John Phelan revealed that Trump had specifically requested a 'big, beautiful' battleship-type vessel as part of this initiative, alongside several support and transport vessels. Recent naval operations have underscored the need for a more robust combatant inventory to uphold maritime security.
This ambitious project marks a significant push to bridge the gap with China's advancing naval capabilities, where US officials have expressed concern about the current state of US naval power.
Additionally, Trump has sought to revive the US shipbuilding industry since returning to office, with various agreements, including the purchase of Finnish-designed icebreakers intended to bolster US maritime assets.
The President's announcement comes at a time when US naval operations are intensifying in the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
