# shipbuilding
Latest news and articles about shipbuilding
Total: 4 articles found
After 15 Years, the Kennedy’s Sea Trials Highlight a Growing U.S.–China Carrier Gap
The John F. Kennedy began sea trials in January 2026 after a 15‑year build that highlights persistent technical and industrial challenges in the U.S. Ford‑class programme, notably the unreliable EMALS catapult. China’s carrier programme, which reportedly started construction of a Type 004 nuclear carrier in 2026, is advancing more rapidly, raising questions about future balance of naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
Taiwan’s Indigenous Submarine Finally Dives After Prolonged Delays, Tests to Continue into Mid‑2026
Taiwan’s first domestically built submarine, Haikun, completed its initial submerged test on 26 January 2026 after a series of delays tied to systems-integration problems. The programme missed its original November 2025 delivery date and now faces additional staged trials with a new handover target around June 2026, leaving questions about the timeline for boosting Taiwan’s undersea deterrent.
Luohe Enters the Fleet: China’s 5,000‑ton 054B Frigate Narrows the Gap with Destroyers
China’s first 054B frigate, the Luohe (545), has completed its first year in service, showcasing notable improvements in stealth, sensors and weapons density compared with the previous 054A. The 5,000‑ton ship narrows the capability gap with destroyers and Western frigates, fitting Beijing’s strategy of producing a higher number of capable, cost‑effective surface combatants for extended far‑sea operations.
US Navy Dismisses ‘Toilet Crisis’ as Isolated Faults, but Ford-Class Design Questions Persist
The US Navy says sewage-system failures aboard the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford are isolated and short-lived, and do not harm combat readiness. Still, repeated breakdowns, frequent repair requests and design similarities in forthcoming carriers raise questions about habitability, logistics and procurement choices across the Ford-class.