The proposed fleet of Donald Trump-class battleships could cost as much as $275 billion, the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said on Wednesday, making them among the most expensive warships ever built.
According to the independent congressional agency, the first of the planned nuclear-powered battleships is projected to cost $23.4 billion, while each of the remaining 14 vessels would cost an average of approximately $18 billion.
Among the most expensive warships ever built
For comparison, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, cost $13.3 billion in 2008, equivalent to more than $20 billion in 2026 dollars after adjusting for inflation.
The projected costs would place the new Trump-class vessels among the most expensive naval platforms ever constructed.
Named after a sitting president
Donald Trump announced plans for the new class of warships in December, with the vessels set to bear his name, an unusually rare move in US naval tradition.
Typically, the US Navy reserves such honours for presidents who have already left office.
Advanced weapons systems envisioned
At least in theory, the battleships would be equipped with a wide array of advanced weaponry, the CBO report said.
These could include surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, hypersonic weapons, nuclear-armed cruise missiles, laser systems, and electromagnetic railguns.
Larger than current surface combatants
The ships would be significantly larger than the US Navy's existing destroyers and cruisers. However, their displacement, the volume of water displaced by a vessel's hull, would remain below that of the retired Iowa-class battleships, which left service during the 1990s.
Concerns over China's naval expansion
The proposal comes amid growing concern in Washington that the United States is falling behind China in naval development.
China has been rapidly modernising its navy, alongside broader military upgrades. A report submitted to Congress last year highlighted concerns among US military officials and analysts regarding the pace of Chinese shipbuilding.
