However, defence experts say battleships have been outdated for decades, with modern naval warfare relying more on aircraft carriers and smaller destroyers equipped with long-range missiles, CNBC reported.
What are Trump Class warships?
Trump said the first ship, called the USS Defiant, will be bigger and longer than the Iowa-class battleships used during World War II. The vessel is expected to carry hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns and high-power laser systems, many of which are still under development by the US Navy.
While comparable in size to the Iowa-class ships, the Trump Class battleship is expected to be significantly lighter, weighing about 35,000 tonnes. It would require a smaller crew of roughly 650 to 850 sailors, with missiles forming the core of its weapon systems rather than large-calibre guns.
Why do experts see problems with the plan?
Trump compared the new ships to Japan’s Yamato and Musashi battleships from World War II. Both vessels, however, were sunk by aircraft before making a decisive impact in combat.
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Does size make the ships vulnerable?
Experts told CNBC that a vessel of this scale would be highly vulnerable in modern warfare, describing it as a potential “bomb magnet” for enemy missiles.
Some analysts suggest Trump’s interest in battleships reflects their historical symbolism as icons of naval power. For much of the 20th century, battleships represented national military strength.
The USS Missouri, commissioned in 1944, remains famous for hosting Japan’s surrender in 1945. During the Cold War, the US briefly reactivated four Iowa-class battleships in the 1980s to counter the Soviet Union.
What about cost and timelines?
Experts also warned that building a new class of battleships would be expensive and time-consuming, running counter to the Navy’s current emphasis on smaller, more distributed forces.
They added that shifting political priorities could lead a future US administration to cancel the project before the first ship is completed, raising questions about whether the Trump Class battleships will ever move beyond the drawing board.