All articles tagged with #shipbuilding
The U.S. Navy now plans to power the Trump-class BBGNs with nuclear reactors, purchasing 15 ships from FY2028–2055 at about $17 billion each to gain extended endurance, higher power, and capacity for advanced weapons and command-and-control functions; the move reverses earlier doubts, but introduces higher cost and complexity amid tight shipyard capacity, with the first vessel, USS Defiant, expected around FY2036.
The Department of the Navy released its FY2027 Shipbuilding Plan, outlining a strategy to grow the fleet, revitalize the domestic shipbuilding base, and deliver a more capable, ready Navy and Marine Corps with a balanced high–low platform mix and stronger accountability. Backed by a $65.8 billion budget and a 30-year investment outlook, the plan emphasizes continued congressional collaboration to expand shipbuilding capacity and advance the Navy’s Golden Fleet.
Australia and Japan have signed a multi-billion-dollar deal under Project Sea 3000 to procure three upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, with eight more to be built in Western Australia at up to A$20 billion over the next decade. The first hull is due in December 2029, marking Japan's largest defense export. The move aims to reverse the RAN's fleet decline by upgrading from the Anzac-class, equipping the ships with ESSM Block 2 missiles, Mk 41 VLS, Naval Strike Missiles, torpedoes and SeaRAM, and keeping modifications to a minimum to ensure timely delivery. Australia and Japan will eventually operate a combined fleet of about 35 Mogami frigates.
Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and former Virginia Senate candidate who has criticized diversity initiatives and publicized controversial statements about “alpha” recruits, has been named acting Navy secretary after Peter Pehlan’s firing. Cao rise comes as the Navy prioritizes shipbuilding amid Strait of Hormuz duties and ongoing political scrutiny; it’s unclear whether he’ll be nominated to the permanent post.
Hung Cao, a former Republican candidate and Trump ally, is named acting Navy secretary and has earned credibility inside the Pentagon for shipbuilding and crisis management, with White House backing; his elevation comes as Phelan departs amid a challenging period for the Navy’s fleet goals and global tensions with Iran and China, while Democrats raise concerns about his temperament and there is no immediate permanent nomination announced.
Hung Cao, a Vietnam refugee and Navy veteran, has assumed acting Navy secretary duties after John Phelan’s departure. A Trump appointee who has advocated rolling back DEI policies and vaccine-mandate accommodations, Cao has also pushed to modernize base infrastructure and raise recruiting standards. He urges a rethink of naval warfare, pressing for faster shipbuilding and advanced tech to counter threats like hypersonics, noting fleet readiness around 60%. Cao’s background includes active-duty service as a diver and EOD, leading the JFK Jr. recovery, and two Virginia campaigns; he fled Vietnam as a child and later earned advanced degrees and fellowships.
Navy Secretary John Phelan resigns unexpectedly after about a year in the role; Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary. Phelan, a Trump-era appointee, steered controversial shipbuilding decisions (including the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate) but struggled to lift overall ship construction. Feinberg has recently assumed more control over submarine programs, with the OMB overseeing shipbuilding. The departure comes ahead of a major defense budget push that could expand Navy programs, including a proposed new “Golden Fleet” of battleships.
Subic Bay in the Philippines is being revived as a major Indo-Pacific hub, with a reactivated Hyundai shipyard boosting civilian and potential defense-related activity under the US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. The complex now hosts multiple defense-linked tenants and a growing US footprint, while Washington and Manila study forward-deployed ammunition production in the Indo-Pacific; as of early 2026, no weapons manufacturing at Subic has been confirmed, but the site is viewed as increasing strategic leverage near Taiwan and China amid regional tensions.
The Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo will close permanently, resulting in the layoff of over 80 employees, due to losing a critical U.S. Coast Guard contract and unforeseen business issues, raising concerns about the impact on local jobs and industry.
Hanwha's Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia has the capability to build nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy, with the company expressing readiness to fulfill this role when the U.S. government is prepared, amid broader U.S.-South Korea cooperation and investment in shipbuilding.
The US Navy plans to build the largest surface combatant since WWII, called the USS Defiant, as part of the 'Golden Fleet' effort, with construction starting around 2030. The ship will be over 35,000 tons, equipped with advanced weapons and systems, and built in the US to bolster naval capabilities, potentially countering global threats including China.
The U.S. plans to build new 'Trump-class' warships, dubbed the 'Golden Fleet,' emphasizing increased seapower and military strength, with designs featuring lasers and missile capabilities, amidst ongoing challenges in Navy shipbuilding and strategic competition.
The US Navy announced plans to build a new class of warship, the FF(X), as part of Trump's 'Golden Fleet' initiative to boost domestic shipbuilding and address fleet shortfalls, aiming for the first ship to be ready by 2028, amidst efforts to compete with China and revitalize US ship manufacturing.
US and South Korea finalized a trade agreement involving significant investments, tariff reductions, and military cooperation, including South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines in the US, with details to be released soon.
U.S. markets declined sharply amid Chinese sanctions targeting South Korean shipbuilding subsidiaries, signaling increased trade tensions and impacting global markets, with particular concern over China's maritime strategies and their effects on international trade and stock indices.