Key facts
- A US congressional committee has questioned the feasibility of Donald Trump's 'Golden Fleet' naval program.
- Concerns include overwhelming existing nuclear-powered shipbuilding capacity.
- The vulnerability of the program's centerpiece battleship to Chinese missiles was highlighted.
- The DF-21D missile, known as a 'carrier killer', was cited as a specific threat.
A US congressional committee has voiced skepticism regarding Donald Trump's proposed 'Golden Fleet' naval initiative. The committee warned that the program could potentially overtax the nation's already strained nuclear-powered shipbuilding capabilities. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the strategic vulnerability of battleships in contemporary maritime warfare, particularly in the face of advanced weaponry such as the People's Liberation Army's Dongfeng missile series, which includes the DF-21D ballistic missile, often referred to as a 'carrier killer'. A detailed review of the battleship component of the program has been called for.