US President Donald Trump plans to undertake a major overhaul of the country's naval forces, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources in the White House and the Pentagon. The new fleet will be called the Golden Fleet and will be part of a strategy to counter China.
According to the publication, the project envisions the construction of both large, heavily armed new-generation ships and more compact vessels, such as corvettes. The new ships are expected to be equipped with long-range missiles and be able to carry more weapons than current destroyers and cruisers.
The program's working title, Golden Fleet, is chosen in the spirit of other Trump-era initiatives, such as the Golden Dome missile defense system and the Golden Card immigration program.
As the WSJ notes, Trump is personally involved in the concept's development and has repeatedly discussed the appearance and capabilities of the future vessels with the military. He believes the new fleet should become a symbol of American power and technological superiority.
On October 24, Reuters wrote that American military and defense companies have begun integrating new hypersonic strike munitions onto mobile launch platforms.

