Goes and shoots: the United States announced the construction of new Trump-class warships

US President Donald Trump said at a press conference on Monday, December 22, that the US Navy would create a new class of ships that would form the basis of the "golden fleet", implemented to strengthen US naval superiority. For more information about Trump's plan, as well as its prospects, see the Izvestia article.

Trump-class battleships

Donald Trump, speaking on Monday, December 22, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, announced the creation of the "largest battleships" of a new class for the US Navy. According to him, the ships will have "100 times more power and strength" than their predecessors. He added that two battleships were the first in line for construction. In the future, their number may reach 25. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who spoke with the US leader, added that the class of battleships would bear the name of the current president of the country.

The ships, according to Trump, will be equipped with hypersonic weapons, lasers and rail guns and will form the basis of the "Golden Fleet" of the United States. The first of the ships built will be named USS Defiant ("Defiant"). In addition, the president called himself an "aesthete" and stated that he would design the vessel together with the American Navy.

During his speech, Trump said that it would take 2-2.5 years to build these ships, but many have already questioned this. Politico, citing sources, wrote that the United States would not be able to meet the deadline due to the lack of necessary engineering and technical documentation. They also added that the battleship will include many technologies that have never been used simultaneously on one ship before.

The Associated Press (AP) agency, citing an American official, added that the construction of new battleships is planned for the early 2030s. According to the source, the ships are currently at the design stage.

The prospects

Experts interviewed by Izvestia also doubted that the United States would be able to create the announced battleships within the specified time frame.

Ilya Kramnik, a researcher at the Primakov Institute for Strategic Planning Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, drew attention to the fact that the current state of American industry does not imply the implementation of projects of this scale. This can be seen, according to the expert, in the failures of the United States in the implementation of recent projects of large warships (for example, the Constellation frigates).

"This negative experience makes us doubt that such a project, which Trump is talking about, can be implemented, and even more quickly," explains Ilya Kramnik.

The expert also added that at the moment the plan is "hanging in the air" due to the lack of scientific research and related projects.

"Therefore, when Trump says that in 2.5 years this ship will be ready, he is, of course, lying," the Izvestia interlocutor believes.

Ilya Kramnik considers the laying of the ship in the early 2030s to be a more likely development of events, and its implementation closer to 2040.

Igor Shkrobtak, senior researcher at ISKRAN, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Political Sciences, also expressed doubt about the implementation of Trump's plan.

— If we talk about the practical feasibility of the project, then it is definitely not expected in the near future. The American shipbuilding industry is experiencing a serious systemic crisis. There are underlying problems that prevent such large—scale projects from being implemented in a short time and for reasonable money," explains Igor Shkrobtak.

He also adds that if the plan is formally adopted, there is no guarantee that it will not be canceled in the future.

— Moreover, it is highly doubtful that it will be implemented under the current administration. Even if Republicans come to power in the future, it is unlikely that they will consistently implement this approved concept, the expert believes.

For deterrence

According to Ilya Kramnik, the plan to create Trump—class battleships is an internal political move aimed at maintaining its own popularity with voters, as well as showing concern for the might of the armed forces.

Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, drew attention to the fact that Trump's idea is not new, and also, in his opinion, has two goals. The first is the containment of China, as the main opponent of the United States today.

— According to Trump, it is China that is challenging American leadership not only in the economic sphere, but also in maritime navigation. The United States intends to restrain China by blocking its maritime communications," the expert noted.

According to him, one of the scenarios of increased pressure on China is to block the Strait of Malacca, through which most of the Chinese trade passes. If this plan is successful, the United States will be able to inflict quite severe geo-economic damage on China.

— Right now, the main American strategy to contain China is to block it from the sea. This is exactly what this strategy for building a powerful Trump fleet is aimed at," Konstantin Blokhin believes.

The second goal, according to Konstantin Blokhin, is that it should become a growth driver for the US military-industrial complex. The expert also considers it important that the Americans lose the "palm tree" in shipbuilding. He adds that the United States continues to have the most powerful navy in the world, but today the three main superpowers in the field of shipbuilding are China, Japan and South Korea. The United States, by building battleships, wants to achieve absolute superiority in this area.