The U.S. Congress has approved the deployment of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N) on the Trump-class guided missile battleship program, formally linking a new nuclear cruise missile to a large surface combatant for the first time since the early 1990s.
Congress Backs SLCM-N on Surface Combatants
Action taken on January 8, 2026, confirms that the SLCM-N nuclear cruise missile will be integrated into the Trump-class, also called BBG(X), expanding potential sea-based nuclear strike options beyond submarines.
This move follows years of debate between the executive branch and Congress over the missile’s development and deployment requirements. Under Section 1633 of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers mandated limited operational assets by September 2032 as part of the broader strategy to field the system.
Historical Context and Policy Shift
SLCM-N revives a capability retired after the Cold War. The U.S. Navy previously operated a nuclear Tomahawk variant on surface ships and submarines in the 1980s and early 1990s. The current effort aims to fill a perceived deterrence gap with a low-yield nuclear option.
The missile program has seen congressional funding and direction even as past administrations sought to cancel or limit it following the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. Lawmakers have tied funding to specific deployment outcomes and timelines.
Trump-Class Battleship Role
The Trump-class battleship, unveiled by the Department of the Navy in late 2025 as part of the so-called “Golden Fleet” initiative, is designed as a large guided missile platform with significant surface firepower. This includes a planned mix of vertical launch cells and specialized launchers for both conventional and nuclear-armed payloads.
Integration of SLCM-N on a surface combatant represents a noteworthy shift in U.S. naval nuclear posture, extending sea-based nuclear cruise capability beyond attack submarines and strategic ballistic missile submarines.
What Comes Next
With congressional approval in place, defense planners and the Navy will move toward system integration design work and coordination with shipbuilders and missile developers. Initial deployments are likely to align with statutory delivery requirements in the early 2030s.
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