President Donald Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, announced plans for a new class of surface combatants, referred to as “battleships,” during a news briefing at Trump’s Florida mansion on December 25, 2025. The vessels are designed to be significantly larger than current Navy ships, displacing approximately 35,000 tons, which is three times the size of the existing Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
These new ships will feature an extensive armament system, including 128 Mk 41 vertical-launch missile tubes, surpassing the 96 tubes found on the latest Burke-class destroyers but less than the 154 on the Navy’s SSGN guided-missile submarines. Additionally, the proposed class is set to incorporate advanced technologies that are yet to be fully developed, such as a 32-megajoule railgun and two 300 kW tactical lasers. Notably, the Navy previously spent hundreds of millions of dollars over 15 years attempting to deploy a railgun, ultimately abandoning the project in 2021.
Phelan emphasized that parts of the new ships would be constructed in all 50 states, continuing a long-standing Navy practice aimed at securing political support through widespread contract distribution.
Historically, the last battleship completed was the HMS Vanguard, finished in 1946, while the last commissioned battleship by the United States was the USS Missouri, which was decommissioned in the 1990s. According to historian Heather Cox Richardson, this announcement marks a notable shift in naval strategy and terminology.
U.S. Surveillance Operations in Nigeria
In a related development, the United States has initiated surveillance flights over Nigeria following Trump’s expressed intent to deploy American troops to address violence against Christians in the region. According to a report by Reuters, these flights have been ongoing since late November 2025 and typically originate from Ghana before returning to base.
Experts from the American Enterprise Institute noted that the surveillance operations appear to be operating from an airport in Accra, which is recognized as a key hub for U.S. military logistics in Africa. Pentagon officials have refrained from providing further details about the nature of these surveillance activities.
In another significant defense-related announcement, the U.S. State Department has authorized a sale of over 230 AMRAAM-ER missiles to Denmark, valued at approximately $951 million. This approval follows recent tensions between the White House and Danish officials, highlighting ongoing international defense collaborations.
The Pentagon’s recent reports indicate that China has increased its missile capabilities, with estimates suggesting that more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are now housed in silo fields, raising concerns about regional security dynamics.
As the year concludes, various national security topics have emerged, including U.S. missile defense contracts and the Pentagon’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. These developments underscore the evolving landscape of military strategy and international relations as the United States navigates its role on the global stage.
As 2025 draws to a close, the implications of these announcements raise critical questions about military readiness and technological advancements in the face of geopolitical challenges. The upcoming year is poised to bring further developments in defense strategies and international cooperation, shaping the future of military engagement worldwide.
