Washington DC, April 23 -- The United States Navy has placed its proposed next-generation battleship programme, the BB(X) or "Trump-class", at the centre of a USD 377.5 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget request to shore up its intent to "restore" maritime dominance and accelerate fleet modernisation, as China's PLAN numbers grow rapidly.

The budget, released by the Department of the Navy on Tuesday, marks a 23 per cent increase over the previous fiscal year and forms part of President Donald Trump's USD1.5 trillion national defence topline submitted earlier this month.

It combines large-scale shipbuilding, aircraft procurement and munitions expansion, with the design and development of a new class of large surface combatants emerging as t...