Summary
The U.S. Navy has announced plans to build a new class of small warships as part of President Donald Trump's "Golden Fleet" initiative. The new ships, designed for flexibility and cost-effectiveness, aim to enhance the Navy's operational capacity by complementing larger warships.
Key Facts
- President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have approved the plans for the "Golden Fleet."
- The first ship of this new type is expected to be operational by 2028.
- The design is based on the U.S. Coast Guard's Legend-class national security cutter.
- HII, the largest shipbuilder in the U.S., will build the new ships, currently named FF(X).
- The new vessels are smaller and more agile, designed to carry different payloads and control drones.
- These ships will mainly operate in missions where larger warships are not needed.
- The Navy currently lacks enough small surface combatants, with a third of the needed number in operation.
- The U.S. shipbuilding industry faces challenges in meeting deadlines and budgets, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
