US eyes new generation of warships to restore dominance at sea

The United States Navy and the Trump administration are exploring the creation of a new generation of warships, tentatively dubbed the “Golden Fleet,” aimed primarily at countering China’s rapidly expanding naval power. This concept envisions larger, heavily armed capital ships in the 15,000–20,000 ton range—bigger than current destroyers and approaching cruiser size—equipped with long-range and hypersonic missiles, advanced propulsion, hardened hulls, and modular combat systems. Complementing these capital ships would be numerous smaller support vessels such as corvettes, light frigates, and unmanned platforms, enabling a distributed, resilient, and long-range strike capability rather than relying on the traditional carrier-centric model. The initiative also reflects former President Donald Trump’s personal influence, blending national defense objectives with branding and aesthetic considerations, including a desire for more visually imposing ships. While still in early conceptual stages, the plan faces significant challenges, including industrial capacity constraints—U.S. shipyards are already