Article Summary and Key Points: The Constellation-class frigate is intended to modernize the U.S. Navy’s fleet by filling the gap left by aging Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and troubled Littoral Combat Ships. Designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and surface warfare, the frigates promise versatility but have faced major setbacks.
-Delays, cost overruns, and weight growth issues threaten the program’s success, with the lead ship now expected in 2029—three years behind schedule. Workforce shortages and technical integration challenges further complicate production.
-While the Navy remains committed, critics question whether the program can deliver or if it will become another expensive failure in U.S. naval procurement.
U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class Frigate Faces Delays and Budget Woes
The Constellation-class frigate is an upcoming project designed to address modern maritime threats and enhance the Navy’s operational flexibility.
Despite promising to fill the US Navy’s future warship needs, the project has faced a series of delays and misfires, which have left many onlookers pessimistic about the ship’s prospects.
The Navy’s Upcoming Multi-Role Frigate
The Constellation-class frigate, designated FFG-62, is a new class of guided-missile frigates being developed for the U.S. Navy.
These ships are based on the European FREMM multipurpose frigate, which is already in service with the French and Italian navies.
The Constellation class is designed as a versatile, multi-mission warship capable of operating in both blue-water and littoral environments.
When fully loaded, the frigates’ displacement is approximately 7,291 tons, their length is 496 feet, and their beam is 65 feet.
They are powered by a combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) system, providing a speed over 26 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 16 knots. The armament includes 32 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, capable of launching a variety of missiles including the BGM-109 Tomahawk and RIM-162 ESSM Block 2. Additionally, they can carry one MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and one MQ-8C Firescout unmanned aerial vehicle.
The Constellation-class frigates are designed to perform a wide range of missions, including anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and electronic warfare. They have advanced sensors and processing systems, such as the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System and the AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar.
Filling a Much-Needed Gap
Why does the Navy want the Constellation-class frigate?
The upcoming frigates are intended to meet several strategic needs. The rise of near-peer competitors, particularly China and Russia, has prompted the Navy to seek more capable and versatile warships. The Constellation-class frigates are designed to counter various threats, including advanced submarines, surface ships, and aircraft.
The Constellation-Class are intended to replace the aging Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and the problematic Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The LCS program faced numerous issues, including cost overruns and performance shortfalls, leading the Navy to seek a more reliable and capable platform. The Constellation-class frigates are designed to operate in both blue-water and littoral environments, providing the Navy with greater operational flexibility.
These ships can perform a variety of missions, from escorting carrier strike groups to conducting independent operations in contested waters. Compared to larger destroyers and cruisers, the Constellation-class frigates offer a more cost-effective solution for many missions. Their smaller size and lower cost make them an attractive option for the Navy, allowing for a larger number of ships to be procured within budget constraints.
Rough Seas Ahead for the Constellation-Class
Despite the promising capabilities of the new frigate, the project has suffered several issues and controversies.
One of the primary issues plaguing the Constellation-class frigate program is the delay in design finalization and construction. The Navy’s decision to commence construction before completing the design has led to significant schedule slippages.
The lead ship, USS Constellation (FFG-62), is now expected to be delivered 36 months later than planned. This delay is largely due to the instability of the ship’s design, which has caused disruptions in the construction process. The Navy’s approach of starting construction with an incomplete design is inconsistent with leading ship design practices and has jeopardized the program’s timeline.
The program has also faced substantial cost overruns. Initially, the estimated cost for the first ship was around $1.28 billion, with subsequent ships expected to cost approximately $1.05 billion each. However, these estimates have proven to be overly optimistic. The actual costs have increased significantly, with some estimates suggesting that the final cost per ship could be as high as $1.6 billion. This 40% increase in costs has raised concerns about the program’s affordability and sustainability.
Another critical issue is the “unplanned weight growth” of the Constellation-class frigates. The weight of the ships has increased by over 10% from the initial estimates. This weight growth is attributed to design decisions and the challenges of adapting a foreign design to meet U.S. Navy requirements. The increased weight could limit the ships’ service life and modernization potential, as it may require the Navy to reduce the ship’s speed or other capabilities to accommodate future upgrades. This issue adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging design and construction process.
The primary shipbuilder, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, has faced significant challenges in ramping up production capacity and hiring skilled workers. The shipyard is reportedly a “few hundred” workers short, which has contributed to delays in the construction schedule. The workforce shortages have been exacerbated by the lingering effects of post-pandemic conditions, which have affected the shipbuilding industry as a whole. The Navy is considering various measures to address these challenges, including the possibility of introducing a second shipyard to accelerate production.
Constellation-Class Frigate
The Constellation-class frigate program has encountered various technical risks, particularly related to the integration of advanced technologies. The Navy has yet to demonstrate the full capabilities of the propulsion and machinery control systems, which are critical components of the frigates. These technical uncertainties pose significant risks to the program, as any issues discovered during testing could lead to further delays and cost increases. The Navy is considering additional land-based testing to mitigate these risks and ensure the reliability of the systems before the ships are deployed.
What’s Next for the Constellation-Class Frigate?
The Constellation-class is supposed frigate program is a critical component of the U.S. Navy’s future fleet, designed to address modern maritime threats and enhance operational flexibility. However, the program has faced significant challenges, including design and construction delays, cost overruns, weight growth issues, shipyard capacity and workforce challenges, and technical risks.
Addressing these issues will be essential for successfully deploying the Constellation-class frigates and maintaining the Navy’s edge in an increasingly contested maritime environment.
The Constellation-class frigate was designed to address modern maritime threats and enhance operational flexibility. While the program has faced significant challenges, including design delays, cost overruns, and technical risks, the Navy has yet to pull the plug. It remains committed to bringing these advanced warships into service.
An artist rendering of the U.S. Navy guided-missile frigate FFG(X). The new small surface combatant will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations. The design is based on the FREMM multipurpose frigate. A contract for ten ships was awarded to Marinette Marine Corporation, Wisconsin (USA), on 30 April 2020.
The future of these warships remains in doubt, with some critics arguing that the project has already been a disaster.
Considering the first ship has been delayed until 2029, Time will tell if the Constellation-class becomes the new backbone of the US Navy or whether it will sink before arrival.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
