The "Golden Fleet" Initiative to Introduce "Trump-Class" Warships
"Hanwha is a 'good company'"
Collaboration Between Navy and Private Companies
Three Aircraft Carriers Under Construction
"Will Meet with Defense Contractors to Discuss Schedule"
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the U.S. Navy's next-generation warship construction initiative, known as the "Golden Fleet." As part of this new force, he revealed that newly introduced frigates (escort ships) will be built in cooperation with the Korean company Hanwha. This development has drawn attention to whether the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding investment project, "MASGA" (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again), agreed upon by the leaders of both countries, will gain further momentum.
On the 22nd (local time), at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy's next-generation warship construction plan called the "Golden Fleet." President Trump stated that the "Trump-class" battleship, named after himself, will be "the largest in American history and the greatest battleship in world history." Photo by AFP Yonhap News
On the 22nd (local time), President Trump held a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. He stated, "Last week, the U.S. Navy announced plans to build a new class of frigates. They will be working with a Korean company," specifically referring to Hanwha as "a good company." He added, "Hanwha has agreed to invest $5 billion in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard." Trump continued, "That was a great shipyard. It was closed long ago, but it is reopening so that the U.S. Navy and private companies can work together." The Philadelphia shipyard mentioned by President Trump appears to refer to the Philly Shipyard, which was acquired by Hanwha.
The new frigates that the U.S. Navy is set to introduce with Hanwha's assistance will be incorporated into the "Golden Fleet" announced by President Trump on this day. He explained that the Navy is collaborating with the private company Hanwha because these ships are "needed right now." The decision to select a Korean company with rapid shipbuilding capabilities is seen as a response to delays in the original plan to procure frigates from Italy.
President Trump stated, "The United States has built many new warships over the years, but they have become increasingly smaller and do not align with our 'peace through strength' strategy." He added, "Now, including aircraft carriers, we will increase their size. Once completed, these new ships will exceed 30,000 to 40,000 tons and become the flagships of the U.S. Navy fleet." Currently, the mainstay of the U.S. Navy is the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which is about 9,500 tons. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), President Trump believes that relying solely on these ships will not be sufficient in future naval power competitions.
The U.S. Navy plans to first build two "Trump-class" battleships and ultimately expand to 20 to 25 ships. President Trump introduced the name of the first Trump-class battleship as "USS Defiant." He also announced that three large aircraft carriers are under construction, and that 12 to 15 submarines are either being built or soon will be. He emphasized, "The United States has already built many battleships such as the Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Alabama, but these new warships will have 100 times the power and strength." He added, "We are building these ships in the United States. Next week, I will meet with major defense contractors to discuss the production schedule."
The new fleet envisioned under the "Golden Fleet" plan will consist of several large destroyers equipped with long-range missiles, including hypersonic missiles, as well as an even greater number of smaller escort frigates. President Trump stated, "State-of-the-art electromagnetic railguns and high-power laser weapons will be installed," and added, "We will also operate cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads."
This plan, in which President Trump is personally involved, is interpreted as an effort to contain the expansion of China's naval power. According to the WSJ, the name "Golden Fleet" reflects both the next-generation U.S. air defense system, the "Golden Dome," and President Trump's well-known affinity for gold.
However, concerns have been raised that the newly announced fleet, designed to replace the aging existing fleet, may focus excessively on grandeur and appearance at the expense of cost-effectiveness and performance. Former Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery criticized the new escort frigates, stating that without vertical launch systems or Aegis defense systems, they are "tactically useless." He further commented, "The president seems to be focused solely on the visual image of battleships looking impressive to him."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
