The US Navy has awarded HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding a $283-million contract to begin lead yard support work for its next-generation FF(X) frigate program.
Under the deal, Ingalls will handle early-stage design work, long-lead material procurement, and pre-construction planning for the first ship. Initial activities will also include cutting and shaping raw material to prepare the structural foundation and construction sequence for the frigate.
The contract is intended to smooth the transition from design to production and reduce delays once full shipbuilding begins. It also allows Ingalls to begin integrating early planning work with its existing production lines.
The FF(X) program is designed to deliver a smaller and more agile surface combatant that can operate alongside larger US Navy warships while expanding operational flexibility across global missions.
In December 2025, the US Navy formally selected Ingalls to design and build the FF(X) class.
Ingalls’ US Shipbuilding Footprint
Ingalls Shipbuilding has secured several major navy-related collaborations over the past year as the US continues to expand and modernize its surface fleet.
In March, the company authenticated the keel of the US Navy’s 16th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock in Mississippi.
It also completed builder’s sea trials for the USS Zumwalt in January, marking a key milestone in the modernization of the navy’s first Conventional Prompt Strike destroyer.
In 2024, Ingalls launched the USS Harrisburg and USS Richard M. McCool Jr.
