President Donald Trump has announced the development of the Trump Class USS Defiant, the first American battleship constructed since World War II. The vessel will be equipped with hypersonic and highly lethal weapons systems.
The US Navy plans to build up to 25 of these vessels, beginning with two initially approved. Construction will occur domestically and is expected to generate thousands of jobs. The announcement was made at Mar-a-Lago alongside defence secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials.
The new battleships are intended to serve as flagships of the US Navy and will be part of a broader fleet expansion. This includes a planned increase in both manned and unmanned vessels to close the gap with China's naval output.