The U.S. Navy has announced plans to construct new warships as part of former President Trump's "Golden Fleet" initiative. The program aims to revitalize American shipbuilding and address the shortage of small combat vessels exposed by recent global military operations.
Navy Secretary John Phelan revealed the plan in a video posted on X, targeting the completion of the first vessel by 2028. He stated that the ship would be "intelligently constructed from the outset" with phased upgrades to adapt to evolving threats and technologies.
The vessel, designated FF(X), will be built by HII in Newport News, Virginia. The shipbuilder's Legend-class patrol vessels will serve as the foundation for the new design. Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, noted on X that the Navy's current fleet of small surface combatants is only one-third the required size.
A White House official indicated that Trump would announce a shipbuilding initiative later Monday alongside Phelan and Defense Secretary Hagerty, though no further details were disclosed.
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