U.S. Navy cancels Constellation frigates and redirects resources to new ships

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U.S. Navy cancels Constellation frigates and redirects resources to new ships
U.S. Navy cancels Constellation frigates and redirects resources to new ships (X @USNavy)

The United States Navy has decided to terminate the Constellation-class frigate program, which was originally planned to include at least 10 ships.

The announcement was made by Navy Secretary John Phelan, who stated that the decision is part of a package of changes intended to accelerate naval production and strengthen military readiness. According to him, the four ships whose construction had not yet begun will be canceled, while the first two remain under review.

The program had faced difficulties from the beginning, especially due to the numerous design changes compared to the European FREMM model on which the new class is based. These modifications increased costs and caused significant delays, moving the program away from its initial goal of adopting a ready-made design with minimal changes. The estimated value of each ship also increased: initial projections were around $1 billion, but recent estimates point to $1.4 billion.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine, responsible for construction, also admitted little progress on the first ship, which is reportedly only around 10% complete. In parallel, the Navy plans to work with Congress to redirect part of the program’s unused funds toward vessels that can be built more quickly, maintaining activity at shipyards in Wisconsin.

Fincantieri stated that the cancellation reflects a strategic realignment by the U.S. Navy, which aims to prioritize new classes of ships, including amphibious vessels, icebreakers, and platforms for special missions. According to the company, the agreement ensures continued work for its workforce and strengthens its presence within the U.S. naval industrial base, as the Navy reshapes its priorities for surface combatants.

Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @USNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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