The US Navy has selected HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding to design and construct a new class of small, agile combatant ships intended to complement larger multi-mission vessels and expand global operational flexibility.
The FF(X) frigate will address the capability gap created by the cancellation of the Constellation-class program, with the lead ship slated for launch in 2028.
Unlike the Constellation class, which was based on the Franco-Italian FREMM design, the new frigate will draw on the US Coast Guard’s 4,700-ton Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC), leveraging a proven American hull design produced by Ingalls.
By limiting design changes, the manufacturer aims to enable construction across multiple shipyards, reducing production timelines.
“To deliver at speed and scale, I’ve directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on HII’s Legend-Class National Security Cutter design: a proven, American-built ship that has been protecting US interests at home and abroad,” Secretary of the US Navy John C Phelan said.
“To expand capacity and production across our maritime industrial base, we will acquire these ships using a lead yard, and a competitive follow-on strategy for multi-yard construction.
Shipyards will be measured against one outcome: delivering combat power to the Fleet as fast as possible.”
Versatile Platform
Although surface warfare will be its primary mission, the frigate’s modular architecture and ability to command unmanned systems will allow it to support a broad range of operations across contested maritime environments.
As a small surface combatant, the FF(X) will take on lower-priority missions that do not require a large warship, freeing up higher-end vessels and enhancing the fleet’s operational flexibility, adaptability, and mission readiness.
The ship will be designed to carry a crew of approximately 140 sailors.
Among the few changes planned to the Cutter design is the construction of a platform above the open boat deck for containerized mission packages such as vertical launch missile systems, according to USNI News.
By comparison, the canceled Constellation class was designed with a 32-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system, a dedicated anti-submarine warfare suite, and an AN/SPY-6-based air-search radar.
HII Invests $1 Billion in Ingalls Shipbuilding
HII has delivered 10 NSC vessels over the past two decades, with the most recent vessel handed over in October 2023.
The company said it has invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure, facilities, and tooling at Ingalls Shipbuilding to support next-generation systems and platforms.
“We look forward to supporting the Navy on this critical program,” HII president and CEO Chris Kastner said.
“Speed matters, and the NSC ship design is stable and produceable and will lead to predictable schedules.
I have great confidence in the Ingalls team to execute this program, and in our ongoing efforts with our partners to successfully expand the US shipbuilding industrial base to meet the Navy’s needs.”
