The Navy plans to buy the first new Trump-class battleship, designated BBG(X), in 2028 and wants to spend upwards of $43.5 billion over the next five years to procure three battleships, according to budget request documents released Tuesday.
The Navy’s fiscal year 2027 shipbuilding procurement budget book specifically outlines plans to spend $1 billion in advance procurement for BBG(X) next year, $16.97 billion to procure the first ship in fiscal 2028, another $1 billion in advanced procurement for the second ship in fiscal 2029, $13 billion for the second BBG(X) in fiscal 2030 and $11.5 billion for the third vessel in fiscal 2031.
On top of that, the Navy is requesting $3.9 billion in research and development funds for the battleships over the five-year Future Years Defense Program, Rear Adm. Ben Reynolds, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Budget and director of the Fiscal Management Division, N82, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, said during a budget briefing at the Pentagon.
The Navy is requesting $837 million for BBG(X) research and development funds in fiscal 2027 alone.
The 30,000 to 40,000 ton battleships – less than half the size of an aircraft carrier – are to carry the nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) and to serve as a command and control platform for drones and other ships.
SLCM-N would also be deployed on the Virginia-class submarines and would include a variant of the W80-4 air-launched cruise missile warhead. The W80-4 is something the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is already working on.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.