{"id":50735,"date":"2026-02-12T23:35:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T23:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2026\/02\/12\/2027-defense-budget-could-double-2026-ship-requests-us-navy-secretary-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:24:27","slug":"2027-defense-budget-could-double-2026-ship-requests-us-navy-secretary-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2026\/02\/12\/2027-defense-budget-could-double-2026-ship-requests-us-navy-secretary-says\/","title":{"rendered":"2027 defense budget could double 2026 ship requests, US Navy secretary says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SAN DIEGO \u2014 The fiscal 2027 defense budget could double the number of ships the Navy is set to procure under the fiscal 2026 defense budget, Navy Secretary John Phelan said during a keynote address at the WEST Conference in San Diego, California, on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the 2026 budget allotted $27.2 billion for the Navy to build 17 ships, Phelan said President Donald Trump\u2019s proposed fiscal 2027 defense budget of $1.5 trillion could bump that number up to at least 34, with a large contingent of auxiliary and support ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an area that we are in grave need of upgrading and I think the president has correctly addressed that in the budget,\u201d Phelan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy secretary said that the effort would help rebuild the maritime industrial base by focusing on the construction of ships that are easier to build than combat ships, which require complicated radar systems and nuclear propulsion systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 budget allocated money for vessels that include two Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, three medium landing ships and one T-AGOS ocean surveillance ship, according<\/a> to the House Appropriations Committee. <\/p>\n\n\n