CBO Estimate: First Trump-class Battleship Could Cost Over $20 Billion

The first Trump-class battleship for the US Navy could cost more than $20 billion, according to estimates by the US Congress.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the cost of the lead ship could exceed $20 billion if ordered today.

If the contract for the first ship is signed in 2030, the price could rise to approximately $22 billion.

CBO analyst Eric Labs noted that, based on estimates “by weight,” the cost of the first battleship would range from $14.3 billion to $20.6 billion if ordered today.

The difference in cost depends on the ship’s final displacement and historical analogues used for calculations.

If the order is postponed until 2030, the cost range increases to $15.1–21.6 billion.

At the same time, the CBO estimates that serial ships of this class may cost less.

Subsequent battleships could cost $9–13 billion per unit if construction begins in the near future.

If the program starts after 2030, the cost of serial ships is estimated at $10–15 billion.

The idea of building Trump-class battleships is part of the “Golden Fleet” concept announced by President Donald Trump in December.

According to preliminary materials from the US Navy, a ship with a displacement of more than 35,000 tons could be equipped with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, vertical launch systems, artillery, laser weapons, and railguns.

The CBO emphasizes that uncertainty about the level of armor, armament, survivability, as well as personnel and supply chain issues could significantly affect the final cost of the program.

Earlier, we looked in more detail at the equipment of the future Trump-class battleships, which are to be armed with hypersonic and nuclear missiles and an electromagnetic cannon.