President Donald Trump announced the construction of two new class "Trump" military ships, as he emphasized at a press conference at his estate in Mar-a-Lago, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan were present. These new vessels, with a displacement of 30,000 to 40,000 tons, will be equipped with advanced weapon systems such as hypersonic missiles, electric railguns, and powerful laser systems, as well as nuclear cruise missiles that are currently in development.
According to Trump, the new combat ships will be "a hundred times more powerful than any military vessels ever built." They will also become "the flagships of the American fleet," the president noted.
As reported by AFP, these ships will be significantly larger than modern destroyers and cruisers, but smaller than the Iowa-class battleships that were in service until the early 1990s.
Trump also indicated that the construction of the first two ships will take approximately 2.5 years, and in the future, the number in the U.S. Navy is planned to be increased first to 10, and then to 20-25 units.
As AFP reminds, the announcement of the creation of new combat ships came against the backdrop of escalating strategic confrontation between the U.S. and China, where the naval fleet has significantly increased its strength, including the recent commissioning of a third aircraft carrier.
However, Trump noted that these ships are not intended to confront China. "This is to confront anyone. Not China, we have great relations with China," he was quoted by Fox News. "I have a wonderful relationship with Chairman Xi, and this is not about China. It's about being ready for any challenges and ensuring peace through strength," he added.
The president also linked his plans for the creation of new combat ships to the need to support the U.S. defense industry. He stated that he intends to meet with leading defense contractors next week to discuss shortening delivery times and increasing investments in the construction of defense factories.
According to Fox News, the U.S. Navy currently operates about 294 military ships, while the People's Liberation Army Navy has 370 surface and underwater vessels, according to the Pentagon.
