US Navy's Trump-class battleship plan faces skepticism over deterrence and cost

The US Navy has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct a new class of nuclear-powered battleships, dubbed the Trump-class, under the BBG(X) program. Announced as part of the White House's 'Golden Fleet' shipbuilding plan for the next three decades, the Navy aims to acquire up to 15 of these vessels by 2055. The ships are intended to serve as a 'strike-centric arsenal ship' to deter China, with the first budget request expected in 2028 and the first vessel delivered by 2036.

However, the plan has drawn sharp criticism from analysts who question its feasibility and effectiveness. They argue that the Trump-class battleships would be highly vulnerable to modern anti-ship missiles, which China has been developing aggressively. Additionally, the cost of operating and maintaining a nuclear-powered surface combatant fleet is expected to be enormous, potentially straining an already stretched naval budget. There are also doubts about whether the US industrial base can build these ships on schedule, given past delays in other major naval programs.

The Navy claims the nuclear propulsion will provide 'longer endurance, higher speed, and the ability to accommodate advanced weapon systems,' but skeptics counter that large, expensive battleships are an outdated concept in an era of precision missiles and drone swarms. The debate highlights the tension between traditional naval power projection and the realities of modern warfare.