A government report released on Wednesday states that a new class of battleships intended to anchor US President Donald Trump's 'Golden Fleet' is expected to cost around $275 billion.
The plan aims to build a fleet consisting of 15 battleships. These vessels are intended to be nuclear-powered, according to the report.
$23.4 billion
Projected construction cost for the U.S.S. Defiant, the first of the 15 ships.
The first vessel in the fleet, the U.S.S. Defiant, is projected to cost approximately $23.4 billion to construct.
Updates
The projected cost of President Trump's namesake warships is expected to increase by 50 percent or more, with subsequent vessels in the fleet scheduled for acquisition by 2056 projected to cost an average of $18 billion each. Additionally, these new ships are designed to carry laser and hypersonic weapons, and may be equipped with nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles. The plan also breaks US tradition by naming a ship class after a sitting president rather than a former politician.
The projected cost for President Donald Trump's planned warships is expected to rise by 50 percent or more, with subsequent vessels in the fleet projected to cost an average of $18 billion each by 2056. These planned ships, which could be equipped with nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles and undeveloped laser or hypersonic weapons, may displace between 30,000 and 40,000 tons. Additionally, naming a ship class after a sitting president marks a break from US tradition, as such honors were previously reserved for politicians after their terms ended.
The projected costs for the planned warships are expected to rise by 50 percent or more, with subsequent vessels in the fleet projected to cost an average of $18 billion each by 2056. These ships, which could be equipped with nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles and undeveloped laser or hypersonic systems, are expected to have a displacement of 30,000 to 40,000 tons. Additionally, naming the class after a sitting president marks a break from US tradition, where such honors were previously reserved for former politicians.
The planned warships are projected to cost 50 percent or more above the initial $275 billion estimate, with subsequent vessels in the fleet expected to average $18 billion each by 2056. President Donald Trump's initiative, unveiled in December 2025, envisions an initial build of ten ships with a long-term potential of 20 to 25 units. These vessels are expected to feature laser and hypersonic weapons, and the President intends to directly participate in their design due to his focus on aesthetics.
The projected costs for President Trump's namesake warships are expected to rise by 50 percent or more, with subsequent vessels scheduled for acquisition by 2056 projected to cost an average of $18 billion each. The fleet, which may eventually expand to 20 or 25 units following an initial build of ten, is designed to carry advanced systems including laser and hypersonic weapons. Although the initial plan specified 15 nuclear-powered warships, the President has indicated intentions for the fleet to reach up to 25 units in the long term.
The projected cost of the planned warships is expected to rise by 50 percent or more, with subsequent vessels acquired by 2056 projected to cost an average of $18 billion each. Additionally, the initial plan involves building about ten ships, though the fleet could potentially reach 20 to 25 units in the long term. President Trump also expects the construction of the first two vessels to take approximately two and a half years.
