It may be a long way off, if it ever happens at all, but we now know a few more details of the proposed U.S.S. Defiant, intended to be the first in a new kind of ship, the Trump-class battleships - and this will be a long way from the huge, magnificent gun platforms of World War 2. No 16-inch guns in triple turrets here, and I can't be the only one who is a little disappointed. But what is proposed looks impressive.
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Daryl Caudle and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan both discussed the Trump class battleship, also known as the BBG(X), at separate roundtables on the sidelines of the Navy League’s Sea Air Space 2026 exposition this week. President Donald Trump had officially rolled out plans for the Trump class, the first of which is currently set to be named the USS Defiant, last December.
“I think it is a necessary element to the force,” and “I think it provides real flexibility to the force,” Secretary Phelan said about the BBG(X) effort at his roundtable.
The plans for the ship include some pretty impressive armaments, including at least two traditional guns - five-inchers - to go alone with missiles, lasers, and a railgun. (Only one railgun?)
From what the Navy has shared so far, the Trump class warships will displace approximately 35,000 tons, very roughly three times that of the newest Flight III subvariant of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer. They will also be between 840 and 880 feet long, have a beam (the widest point in the hull) between 105 and 115 feet, and be able to reach a top speed greater than 30 knots. The armament on each of the ships will include a mix of nuclear and conventional missiles, including hypersonic types, loaded into large vertical launch system (VLS) arrays. They will also have an electromagnetic railgun, a pair of traditional 5-inch naval guns, laser directed energy weapons, and various additional weapons for close-in defense.
That's a lot of hitting power. Have a look:
The proposed Trump-class battleship. pic.twitter.com/RK4JzHVOcr
— Ward Clark (@TheGreatLander) April 23, 2026
There's a lot of "cool" factor here, and of course, President Trump intends to have his brand on it.
Read More: US Blockade Now 'Incredibly Effective,' Press Sec. Leavitt Mocks Iran As 'Pirates'
VIDEO: USS Spruance Lights Up Iranian Blockade Runner in a Formidable Demonstration of FAFO
Here's where I think this may go south: The price tag. The estimated cost of one of these beasts, as of this writing, is around $10-17 billion, depending on who you ask. That's "billion," with a "b" followed by an "illion." For comparison, one of our newest Ford-class aircraft carriers costs around $13-15 billion. Congress may not feel sanguine about funding this, and if the Democrats manage to wrest away control of the House of Representatives in this fall's midterms and, along with it, the national checkbook, the odds drop even further. As it stands, though, the Navy is planning to order the first in the class in fiscal year 2028. And if it does, the ships will have substantial hitting power, including:
- Surface Launch Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N).
- 12 cells CPS
- 12 cells Mk 41 VLS
- 1 32MJ Railgun
- 2 traditional 5-inch guns
- Either 2 300kW or 2 600kW lasers
Defenses include:
- 2 RAM launchers
- 4 30mm guns
- 4 ODIN lasers
- 2 Counter UxS systems
Still. In a ship this size, I don't see why we can't stick at least one 16-inch three-gun turret on it somewhere.
This 30-knot beast, if it is built, will be the biggest surface combatant vessel fielded by the United States Navy since 1945.
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.
Help us report on Trump and Hegseth's successes as they make our military great again. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member