【Wen/Observer Net Wang Shipu】According to the "Politico" website, CNN and the U.S. Naval Institute website reported on December 23rd that on December 22nd local time, U.S. President Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago and announced that the United States would build a "New Golden Fleet." His golden fleet will include the "Trump" class battleship (Trump class Battleship). Trump said that this "Trump" class battleship will initially build two ships, and eventually 20 to 25 ships. The displacement is 30,000 to 40,000 tons.

U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth and U.S. Navy Secretary John F. R. also attended the event. Preliminary renderings show that the first ship of the new "Trump" class battleship is named "Daring" (BBG-1). The ship is equipped with one heavy vertical launch system for large hypersonic weapons, two conventional vertical launch systems, one electromagnetic railgun, two 127mm deck guns, and multiple laser weapons. Trump also said that the United States will increase the number of aircraft carriers, building new carriers, and the new carriers will be larger than Ford.

Trump announces the construction of the Trump-class battleship White House

Trump-class battleship rendering

He also said that since 1994, the United States has not built a battleship. He claimed: "As you know, we urgently need ships. Some of our ships are already old, tired, and outdated... These cutting-edge ships will be among the most lethal surface combat ships. Each one will be the largest battleship in the history of our country, and the largest battleship ever built in the world."

Trump said that the battleships will use American steel, but will cooperate with other countries in other aspects. However, he did not reveal which countries will participate in the project or collaborate in the construction.

When asked how the United States would ensure there are enough workers to build the new warships, Trump said that shipyards will use robots.

Aside from announcing the battleship project, Trump also said he would personally design the battleship. Trump said: "The U.S. Navy will lead the design with me because I am very aesthetic."

The new warship will replace the next-generation destroyers DDG (X) plan. When asked if the new ship class was to counter China, Trump said: "It is to counter everyone. Not China."

Regarding the number of ships, the United States will first build two "Trump" class battleships, and eventually may build 20 to 25. "The weapons of these battleships will reach the highest level, including cannons and missiles. They will also be equipped with hypersonic weapons, the most advanced electromagnetic railguns, and even high-power laser weapons that you have already heard about."

Ferran said at the press conference: "The future 'Trump' class battleship 'Daring' will be the largest, deadliest, most versatile, and best-looking warship in the world's oceans. Now, from Philadelphia to San Diego, from Maine to Mississippi, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, shipyards across the country will have job opportunities, and every state will have manufacturers producing components for this warship."

According to naval data reviewed by USNI News, the "Trump" class battleship will be a warship over 35,000 tons, with a draft of 24 to 30 feet (7.3 meters to 9.14 meters), more than twice the size of the 15,000-ton Zumwalt-class destroyer, which is currently the largest surface warship in the fleet. Like DDG (X), the ship uses combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion, but it is unclear whether it will use the same Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbine and integrated electric drive as DDG (X). The crew size will be between 650 and 850 people.

Trump-class battleship parameters

Although this is an unprecedentedly large ship, two sources familiar with the plan told USNI News that the ship's weapon systems are not particularly new. The ship will deploy AN/SPY-6 air search radar, 128 MK-41 vertical launch system units, 12 conventional long-range hypersonic missiles, and 5-inch guns.

However, unlike past surface ships, the "Trump" class battleship design will also leave room for additional weapons, including directed energy weapons, nuclear-capable sea-based cruise missiles, and possibly a 32-megajoule railgun.

The board on site describes the ship as follows: "This battleship will be able to operate independently, as part of an aircraft carrier strike group, or command its own surface action group according to mission and threat environment. With the ability to provide forward command and control for manned and unmanned platforms, this ship will become a key component in executing naval operational concepts."

This news comes amid a comprehensive reform of the U.S. Navy's procurement plans for its surface fleet. Last week, Navy Secretary John F. R. and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle said that the Navy will purchase an escort ship based on the U.S. Coast Guard's "Legend" class strategic ship program, built by HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Previously, John F. R. had announced that the "Constellation" class frigate would be canceled due to delays and modifications to the original design.

According to USNI News, before determining the 30,000-ton battleship, the U.S. Navy explored various sizes, including up to a 50,000-ton battleship. Other options included a smaller 15,000 to 20,000-ton ship.

Naval analyst Brian Clark told USNI News earlier this month that the Navy is considering purchasing 12 to 13 of these new vessels, in addition to traditional MK-41 vertical launch systems, they could also deploy large hypersonic missiles in large dedicated missile launch tubes.

The cost of building this warship in U.S. shipyards could range from $10 billion to $15 billion, depending on the size of the warship and the systems included.

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, have both expressed support for Trump's new warship. Charles Crum, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, stated in a statement provided to USNI News: "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is ready to fully support the Navy in designing and building this important new shipbuilding project."

Since the transfer of the 60,000-ton Missouri (BB-63) to the Navy in June 1944, the U.S. industrial base has not delivered a battleship to the Navy. The U.S. Navy had proposed building a 20,000-ton missile cruiser CG(X), but the plan was canceled by the Obama administration in 2010 due to cost and schedule issues, and the plan was changed into the "Arleigh Burke Flight III".

For years, the U.S. Navy has been struggling to advance the DDG(X) project, the planned successor to the "Arleigh Burke" class missile destroyers. The procurement and construction schedule for DDG(X) has been postponed several times because the Navy has struggled to fund the current ship classes and new projects (such as the next-generation attack submarine and sixth-generation fighter).

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7586858644755464744/

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