Navy planning to spend more than $17B on first Trump-class battleship

The Navy plans to spend more than $17 billion on the first Trump-class battleship, according to budget documents released Tuesday. The service’s spending plan includes $1 billion in advanced procurement funding for fiscal 2027 and $16.47 billion in net procurement funding for fiscal 2028, when the first platform will be bought. This initiative supports the expansion and modernization of the Nation’s large surface combatant fleet, reinforcing maritime dominance. The USS Defiant, the lead battleship, is slated for an award in April 2028, with construction beginning in August 2028 and delivery projected for August 2036. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan noted the cost projections are early estimates and the propulsion system, including whether it will be nuclear powered, is still being determined.