Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has announced America has ditched plans to build four of the six planned Constellation-class frigates.
Work on the first two U.S. Navy warships in the planned class, Constellation and Congress, has already begun; while construction of them continues for now, these have also been put “under review.”
The news was announced after an agreement was reached with shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine. The U.S. Navy had selected an evolution of its FREMM frigate design as the basis for the Constellation-class ships.
However, the programme had been running about three years behind schedule, pushing first delivery dates back to 2029. As per media reports, significant changes to desired weapons and sensors had resulted in under 20% commonality with the parent platform, rather than the target 85%.
In a video statement released on social media platform X this week, Secretary Phelan declared: “From day one I made it clear: I won’t spend a dollar if it doesn’t strengthen readiness or our ability to win.
To keep that promise, we’re reshaping how we build and field the fleet — working with industry to deliver warfighting advantage, beginning with a strategic shift away from the Constellation-class frigate program.”
He added: “A key factor in this decision is the need to grow the fleet faster to meet tomorrow’s threats.”
“This framework puts the Navy on a path to more rapidly construct new classes of ships and deliver the capability our warfighters need, in greater numbers and on a more urgent timeline.”
Meanwhile, a statement on the Fincantieri website noted: “Fincantieri and the U.S. Navy have reached a significant agreement that provides for reshaping the future of the Constellation-class Program, currently under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), in Wisconsin.”
It added: “Fincantieri is expected to receive new orders to deliver classes of vessels in segments that best serve the immediate interests of the nation and the renaissance of U.S. shipbuilding, such as amphibious, icebreaking and other special missions…
“Fincantieri will support the U.S. Navy, as it redefines strategic choices in the Small Surface Combatants segment, manned or unmanned.”
- You can read hear the full statement on the Secretary of the Navy’s X account and read more details on the Fincantieri website