Overview
- Reports describe early-stage discussions involving President Trump, senior White House aides, the Pentagon, and Navy officials about a new fleet concept framed as a response to China.
- The envisioned surface ships would be large 15,000–20,000-ton, heavily armored platforms carrying long-range and potentially hypersonic missiles, according to the reporting.
- Participants say the concept centers on warships optimized to fire powerful long-range missiles, with outside experts like Bryan Clark describing a “battleship of tomorrow” built around that role.
- TASS, citing the Wall Street Journal, says planning notions include a 280–300 ship Navy with many unmanned vessels, though no cost or timeline has been provided.
- A White House spokesperson said to “stay tuned,” while some defense voices urge prioritizing the Navy’s maintenance backlog over launching a new large-ship program as Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping on his Asia trip.