Trump to unveil the "Golden Fleet" plan, with the first vessel expected to be completed in 2028.

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The U.S. Navy has announced plans to build an entirely new class of warship, marking the first concrete project of the Trump administration's "Golden Fleet" initiative. The plan aims to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry and address the recent shortage of small vessels revealed by global military actions.

On December 22, according to media reports citing White House officials, Trump will, later on Monday, join U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to jointly announce a shipbuilding program.

Another media outlet, citing an American official and a source familiar with the discussions, reported that Trump will announce on Monday the formation of a new fleet of large warships, which he refers to as "battleships."

On December 19, Phelan had posted a video on social media directing the construction of a new frigate force, as part of the Golden Fleet, with the first vessel expected to be completed by 2028.

The vessel, code-named FF(X), will be built by HII in Newport News, Virginia, and designed based on its “Legend-class” patrol ships. It is intended to replace the cancelled Constellation-class frigates and is positioned for coastal defense and standard missions, filling the gap in small surface combatants.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle stated that the Navy’s fleet of small surface combatants currently only fulfills a third of the actual need. He said:

Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean have shown that this need cannot be denied.

According to media reports, besides patrol ships, the “Golden Fleet” plan will include new battleships, which will be an upgrade to the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—the mainstay of the current fleet. Trump had previously compared these to rival navies and gave them a rather low evaluation.

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According to the Navy’s plan, the FF(X) warships will be built using all U.S. workers and components. The Navy will first build the frigates, then hold a bidding process to expand construction to multiple shipyards.

This approach reflects the government’s determination to rebuild the foundation of the American shipbuilding industry. According to previous reports by Global Times, a White House spokesperson once stated that this move by Trump is to "strengthen America's maritime dominance."

According to reports, the U.S. Navy is discussing forming an ambitious new fleet focused on advanced ship designs, modular combat systems, and a greater role for unmanned and autonomous platforms. The fleet, reflecting Trump's preferences, is dubbed the "Golden Fleet."

However, the challenges facing the U.S. shipbuilding industry remain severe. According to a recent assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. accounts for only 0.1% of global shipbuilding output. The Washington-based think tank’s report indicates the U.S. continues to face a shrinking workforce, supply chain problems, and a reduction in active shipyards.

According to an assessment cited by the Global Times, designing a large new warship from scratch may take five years, with construction requiring an additional five to seven years—meaning that some vessels may not debut until after the current administration’s term ends.

What is a "modern battleship"?

The most central and attention-grabbing part of the "Golden Fleet" plan is the so-called "modern battleship".

According to a report cited by the Global Times, the ship's displacement will range from about 15,000 to 20,000 tons, far exceeding destroyers and cruisers, and will be capable of carrying more numerous and more powerful weapons—including hypersonic missiles—than current U.S. Navy vessels.

Battleships, known for their thick armor and big guns, were long the core of navies worldwide until aircraft carriers gradually replaced them during World War II. The U.S.'s last class of "Iowa"-class battleships was retired in the early 1990s.

Notably, Trump has often expressed his preference for traditional battleships and dissatisfaction with the Navy’s current ships. On September 30, speaking to hundreds of U.S. military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Trump publicly said:

Aesthetically, I don’t like some of the ships you’re building. If a ship is ugly enough, there’s no point calling it stealthy.

He also stated:

We’re considering the concept of a battleship. Beautiful 6-inch (about 152 mm) side armor made of solid steel—not aluminum, not the kind of aluminum that melts when hit by a missile.

Citing Pentagon officials familiar with the discussions, the Global Times reports that the modernized battleship may be equipped with integrated electric propulsion, more robust hull armor, advanced radar and sensor suites, and long-range hypersonic missiles. Officials stated:

The design concept is to greatly increase offensive firepower while also improving survivability against new threats—including anti-ship ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.

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