The Great Battleship Debate | John Konrad of gCaptain and Zach Cooper of AEI

Why It Matters

The Defiant debate spotlights how billions of dollars and political capital could be allocated to a single surface combatant, influencing the U.S. Navy’s ability to secure critical sea lanes and counter China’s growing maritime challenge.

Key Takeaways

• Trump‑class battleship USS Defiant proposed at $17.5 billion cost.
• Critics question fit within distributed naval force design.
• Logistics and choke‑point protection cited as primary justification.
• Political risk: program could be canceled by future administration.
• Debate centers on sea‑control vs sea‑denial strategy against China.

Summary

The episode of “What’s Going On with Shipping” pits gCaptain’s John Conrad against AEI senior fellow Zach Cooper in a heated debate over the Trump‑class battleship, the USS Defiant, announced by President Trump and the Navy in December 2025. The proposal calls for a 30,000‑ton surface combatant priced at $17.5 billion, slated for FY 2028 acquisition, and is framed as a solution to emerging logistical challenges in the Indo‑Pacific.

Cooper raises three core critiques: the ship’s alignment with the Navy’s shift toward distributed operations, the realism of the $17.5 billion price tag versus higher tonnage‑based estimates, and the political vulnerability of a flagship program that could be scrapped by a future Democratic administration. Conrad counters by emphasizing the logistics gap—insufficient oilers, ammunition ships, and protected merchant‑marine assets—and argues that a heavily armed, high‑magazine‑depth platform is essential for holding choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz, Taiwan Strait, and Luzon Strait against China’s anti‑access strategies.

Key moments include Conrad’s remark that “the Navy has not shown an alternative to protecting merchant ships” and Cooper’s observation that “sea‑control is becoming harder, sea‑denial cheaper,” framing the debate in terms of a strategic pivot from dominance to denial in contested waters. Both cite recent Red Sea engagements, where destroyers and French frigates used deck guns and limited VLS capacity to counter drone swarms, underscoring the need for larger firepower and survivability.

If pursued, the Defiant could reshape force structure by re‑centralizing firepower and command‑and‑control capabilities, but it also risks diverting funds from submarines and other platforms better suited to anti‑access/area‑denial missions. The discussion highlights the tension between political symbolism, fiscal prudence, and evolving maritime strategy as the United States prepares for a potential high‑end conflict with China.

Original Description

Is the battleship making a comeback, or is this the dawn of a new class of "Large Surface Combatant"? In this episode, we dive into the recent announcement regarding the construction of the Trump-class battleships, starting with the USS Defiant.

Host Sal Mercogliano, along with Zach Cooper of AEI and John Konrad of gCaptain, breaks down the specs, the strategy, and the terminology that has the maritime world talking. We explore why the US Navy is looking beyond the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and what a 35,000-ton "battleship" means in the age of drones and hypersonic missiles.

00:00 Introduction

02:21 Opening Statements

11:42 How would the Battleship Fit into the Force Structure?

18:52 Is the Battleship the next Revolution in Naval Affairs?

30:32 Does the Red Sea, Black Sea or Strait of Hormuz need a Battleship?

42:09 Can we even build a Battleship?

56:44 Closing Remarks

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