The National Interest (TNI) conducted an analysis of a hypothetical naval confrontation between the promising American ship USS Defiant of the Trump class and the operating Russian heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" of Project 1144 "Orlan". According to experts, the Russian cruiser will gain a decisive advantage thanks to the hypersonic "Zircon" missiles, against which the American project currently has no effective defense.
US President Donald Trump previously announced the launch of a program to create a new class of "battleships", the first of which will be named USS Defiant. The ship is planned to be built with a displacement of 30–40 thousand tons with 128 launch cells for missiles, which will make it a powerful "floating arsenal". However, TNI emphasizes that, unlike the actually operated and deeply modernized "Admiral Nakhimov" (displacement of about 28 thousand tons), the American ship currently exists only on paper.
Both vessels are focused on missile strikes at long distances, rather than on classic artillery duels using armor. "Admiral Nakhimov" already carries hypersonic "Zircons", which have proven their operability, as well as powerful air defense systems based on the S-400. The American project may receive hypersonic weapons only in the future, as the relevant developments have not yet been completed.
Experts at The National Interest note that even with the US superiority in intelligence, surveillance, and target designation (if Russia does not suppress them with electronic warfare), the large dimensions of the USS Defiant make it easier to detect and track. The main problem is the lack of proven means of intercepting hypersonic targets. In the event of a massive attack by "Zircons", the American ship's missile defense systems are likely to be useless.
As a result, TNI concludes that in a one-on-one direct duel scenario, Russia's operational deployment of hypersonic weapons and the lack of similar capabilities or reliable protection in the United States will lead to the rapid destruction of the USS Defiant.