Trump's first battleship could become the most expensive warship in history
The first Trump-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile cruiser, named the USS Defiant, could become the most expensive warship in history. Its cost is estimated at $23.4 billion, which exceeds the price of a Gerald R. Ford-class supercarrier.
This is stated in a report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. According to Congressional estimates, the construction of the first USS Defiant will cost approximately $23.4 billion—$8 billion more than previously projected by the U.S. Navy. Thus, its cost will exceed that of a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, which is estimated at approximately $22 billion, including development costs.
Experts note that the ship’s final cost could rise even further, as design and construction are planned to proceed in parallel. This approach often leads to delays and the need to rework structures and equipment that have already been manufactured.
In total, the program to build 15 Trump-class battleships is estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to cost about $275 billion. The remaining 14 ships are expected to cost approximately $18 billion each.
Defense Express describes the project’s prospects as mixed. According to experts’ estimates, the amount required to build a single USS Defiant could be used to construct eight Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers or to purchase approximately 93,000 Magura V5 maritime drones.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new class of nuclear-powered missile battleships in December 2025 as part of a program to build a “new golden fleet.” According to the plan, the ships will be equipped with 128 Mk 41 multi-purpose launchers, hypersonic missiles, electromagnetic railguns, combat lasers, and other advanced weaponry.
Source: Defense Express.
As a reminder, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to build a new battleship, which, according to him, is set to become one of the deadliest ships in the world. However, military experts have reacted to this idea with great skepticism.
Trump is proposing to revive battleships that the world has long since written off.
