Record-Shattering Price Tag
The first Trump-class battleship being planned by the U.S. Navy could cost up to $22 billion, making it potentially the most expensive U.S. military ship in history — even pricier than the USS Gerald R. Ford, which cost about $12–$13 billion.
The ship — provisionally dubbed the USS Defiant — is envisioned as a 35,000-ton guided-missile battleship equipped with cutting-edge weapons such as hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable cruise missiles, lasers, and electromagnetic railguns.
Why It Matters?
If built, the Trump-class vessel would reset the bar for warship expense and capability, affecting U.S. naval strategy, defense budgets, and industrial policy — but its future remains uncertain given cost and technical hurdles.