Trump-class Battleship will get same nuclear reactor as Ford aircraft carrier

[Marlin]

Trump-class Battleship will get same nuclear reactor as Ford aircraft carrier

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/trump-class-battleship-will-get-same-nuclear-reactor-as-ford-aircraft-carrier/

[Core Content]

The U.S. Navy plans to equip its new Trump-class battleships with the A1B nuclear reactor currently used in Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. This design choice utilizes existing reactor cooling pumps and steam generator technology to provide the endurance required for Pacific operations. The service intends to procure 15 of these vessels by 2036, with development costs projected to reach $46 billion over the next five years.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle confirmed the battleship would share several design features with the USS Ford.

WASHINGTON — The Trump-class battleship will be outfitted with the same nuclear reactor that powers the aircraft carrier Gerald R Ford, according to the Navy's top officer.

The Navy confirmed in its shipbuilding plan on Monday that the battleship would be nuclear-powered, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said that the battleship would share several design features with the Ford — including the A1B nuclear reactor on the carrier, the steam generator, and reactor cooling pump components.

Read the full article at Breaking Defense:
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/trump-class-battleship-will-get-same-nuclear-reactor-as-ford-aircraft-carrier/