# US Trump-class battleship program development > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-trump-class-battleship-program-development > Updated: 2026-09-07T03:00:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. The United States has proposed a nuclear-powered guided missile battleship program, designated the Trump-class, with an estimated cost of $275 billion. The plan involves constructing 15 ships between 2028 and 2056, with the lead vessel, USS Defiant, projected to cost $23.4 billion. These ships are intended to be the largest and most heavily armed surface combatants built by the US Navy since World War II, equipped with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, large lasers, and rail guns. Domestic concerns have been raised regarding the program's impact on the US industrial base, specifically the potential to exacerbate delays at Newport News Shipbuilding. International observers in China have analyzed the project, noting that the vessels may offer superior combat autonomy. Chinese analysts describe the ships as self-sufficient ‘fortresses’ capable of engaging targets using internal systems even if external communications are jammed by electronic warfare or satellite interference. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-07: Trump-class battleship project analyzed by Chinese observers China National Defense News reports that the U.S. plan to build 15 Trump-class battleships could shift naval power, offering high combat autonomy against electronic warfare. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-class-battleship-project-analyzed-by-chinese-observers ### 2026-08-10: US Navy Trump-class battleship program estimated at $275 billion The US Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposed Trump-class nuclear-powered battleship program will cost $275 billion for 15 ships, raising concerns over industrial capacity and naval modernization. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-navy-trump-class-battleship-program-estimated-at-275-billion --- Cite as: US Trump-class battleship program development. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-trump-class-battleship-program-development