U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan confirmed Tuesday a comprehensive review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier program, a move that could reshape future naval procurement and strategic power projection. The assessment, set for completion next month, specifically examines the design and costs of the high-tech warships. Phelan indicated the Navy would have carriers, but did not guarantee they would be of the Ford-class design, according to AP News.
The Navy's internal evaluation comes after years of public critique from President Donald Trump, who specifically targeted the advanced technology integrated into the Ford-class. Trump previously asserted that the magnetic catapults, a core innovation of the new carriers, "didn't work" during remarks delivered from the Oval Office last year. This presidential skepticism has clearly influenced the current scrutiny.
The review is a calculated step. Despite these criticisms, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of its class, has completed a deployment lasting over 300 days since June 2025.
This constitutes a record for a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. During its extended operational period, the world's largest warship participated in two significant military actions by the Trump administration: the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and combat operations against Iran.
The carrier demonstrated its ability to project power across multiple theaters. Navy budget documents released Tuesday offered a subtle, yet telling, omission. While the documents explicitly named other vessel types, such as Columbia-class submarines and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, they simply listed "aircraft carrier" without specifying the Ford-class.
This linguistic choice suggests a deliberate ambiguity regarding future procurement. Here is what they are not telling you: the absence of a class designation for carriers in budget forecasts often signals a lack of firm commitment to existing designs. It also highlighted the Ford's increased "combat power and ability to maintain high-tempo global strike operations" across three global regions.
Yet, Secretary Phelan expressed a desire to personally review this data. He referenced the "Ronald Reagan school of 'trust and verify'" when discussing the carrier's ability to launch and retrieve aircraft, according to AP News. The ship’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system, known as EMALS, represents a key technological leap.
These magnetic catapults provide a distinct advantage over the steam-powered systems found on older Nimitz-class ships. They exert less stress on the aircraft during launch. They also demand less maintenance.
Furthermore, these systems reduce the ship's requirement for fresh water, a logistical benefit in sustained operations. This efficiency translates into tangible operational gains. Currently, three additional Ford-class carriers are under various stages of construction.
These include the USS John F. Kennedy, the USS Enterprise, and the USS Dorie Miller. These vessels represent a substantial ongoing investment in the Ford-class program.
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Their construction continues as the review unfolds. The ongoing review by Secretary Phelan will specifically assess the next two planned, but uncontracted, carriers: the USS William Jefferson Clinton and the USS George W. Bush.
These ships were named during the Biden administration. Their fate now hangs on the outcome of the current cost-benefit analysis. This review introduces a layer of uncertainty into a long-term shipbuilding strategy.
Adding another dimension to the naval shipbuilding landscape, President Trump has unveiled a new warship design. This concept, dubbed the Trump-class battleship, carries an estimated cost exceeding $17 billion. This figure represents an increase of more than $4 billion over the current estimates for a Ford-class carrier.
The math does not add up for some observers, who question the sudden introduction of a more expensive, entirely new class of vessel while existing programs face scrutiny. Funding for the first ship in this new class, the USS Defiant, is not slated until the 2028 budget year. Secretary Phelan characterized the reported cost for the Trump-class vessel as an "early initial estimate." He expressed an expectation that the cost would decrease as the design matures and more ships are built.
Phelan also did not dismiss the possibility of powering the new ship with a nuclear reactor, a decision that would significantly escalate its overall cost. Follow the leverage, not the rhetoric; the introduction of a new class, especially one championed by a president and potentially more expensive, redirects resources and attention. This re-evaluation of carrier strategy carries significant implications for American power projection.
Aircraft carriers have long served as the cornerstone of U.S. naval dominance, acting as mobile airfields capable of deploying force anywhere on the globe. A shift away from a proven, albeit expensive, design like the Ford-class, or the introduction of a vastly different battleship concept, signals a potential recalibration of how the U.S. Navy intends to operate in contested waters.
This could alter the balance of naval power. Historically, debates over warship design and cost have often reflected deeper strategic disagreements. aircraft carrier debates of the early 20th century to the controversy surrounding the Seawolf-class submarines, military planners constantly grapple with balancing technological ambition against fiscal reality. The current discussion echoes these past struggles.
Political influence often plays a decisive role in these choices. The current review is no exception. Why It Matters: This strategic pivot in naval procurement directly affects the U.S.'s ability to project power and respond to global crises.
For taxpayers, it means billions of dollars are at stake, with potential cost overruns or savings impacting other defense priorities. The defense industry faces uncertainty, as major contracts could shift. Ultimately, the decision will shape the U.S.
Navy's capabilities for decades, influencing international security dynamics and how America asserts its influence worldwide. - The review could lead to the cancellation of future Ford-class carrier orders, despite the lead ship's record deployment. - President Trump's new "Trump-class battleship" design, estimated at over $17 billion, complicates future naval spending plans. - The Navy's budget documents omitted specific mention of the Ford-class, indicating procurement uncertainty. Readers should closely watch the Navy Secretary's review, expected next month, for concrete decisions on the Ford-class program. Further budget discussions in 2028 will reveal the true financial commitment to the proposed Trump-class battleship. fleet for the remainder of the century.
Key Takeaways
— - Navy Secretary John Phelan has launched a review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier design and costs.
— - The review could lead to the cancellation of future Ford-class carrier orders, despite the lead ship's record deployment.
— - President Trump's new "Trump-class battleship" design, estimated at over $17 billion, complicates future naval spending plans.
— - The Navy's budget documents omitted specific mention of the Ford-class, indicating procurement uncertainty.
Source: AP
