Editorial: Navy's new battleship a boondoggle in the making

Editorial: Navy's new battleship a boondoggle in the making argues that the Navy’s plan to acquire 15 battleships over 30 years is fiscally untenable and strategically unnecessary. The first ship, the USS Defiant, was unveiled in December as a vessel purported to be vastly more powerful than World War II battleships, with lasers, hypersonic missiles, rail guns, and nuclear-capable cruise missiles, potentially requiring nuclear reactors. Analysts point to displacement targets between 30,000 and 40,000 tons, a cost that could reach as high as $20 billion per ship, raising concerns about affordability and practicality within stretched shipyards and competing priorities. The piece also suggests that investing in unmanned surface and underwater systems could address a broader range of risks more efficiently. The White House has requested substantial defense funding, but Congressional approval remains uncertain, complicating any prospect of a large, multi-ship program.