The U.S. Navy’s next-generation frigates are anticipated to be constructed as a part of a partnership with Hanwha Group. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Dec. 22 (native time) that the U.S. Navy will work with Hanwha for the development of recent frigate warships.
“Final week, the Navy introduced a brand-new class of frigate, and so they’re going to be working with the South Korean firm Hanwha,” Trump mentioned throughout a press convention held at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
On Dec. 19, the U.S. Navy introduced a plan to introduce a brand new class of fight ships designed to be smaller and extra agile to enrich bigger, multi-mission warships.
Trump described Hanwha as a “good firm,” noting that it has agreed to take a position $5 billion (roughly 7.4 trillion received) in a Philadelphia naval shipyard.
Trump characterised the location as “an incredible shipyard” that had been shut down for a very long time however has since reopened and is now working with the U.S. Navy and personal firms. The shipyard he referred to is believed to be Philly Shipyard, which was acquired by Hanwha.
Consideration is now centered on whether or not the Make American Shipbuilding Nice Once more (MASGA) initiative – a South Korean funding mission within the U.S. shipbuilding sector agreed upon throughout two Korea-U.S. summits earlier this yr – will acquire momentum beginning subsequent yr.
Throughout the press convention, Trump additionally introduced plans to create a “Golden Fleet” composed of newly constructed giant naval vessels, saying the frigates could be included within the fleet.
Trump mentioned the U.S. Navy will construct two new, highly effective battleships as a part of the envisioned “Golden Fleet.” He mentioned the brand new 30,000-40,000 ton battleships shall be “100 instances extra highly effective” than any constructed earlier than, saying as much as 25 might ultimately be constructed.
The Golden Fleet is anticipated to consist of enormous destroyers outfitted with hypersonic missiles and smaller escort vessels, and is broadly interpreted as a technique to counter China’s increasing naval energy. When requested whether or not the transfer was aimed particularly at China, Trump responded that it was meant “to reply to everybody,” avoiding a direct reply.
