Following the cancellation of its last frigate program, the US Navy announced Friday that it is pursuing a new frigate based on an American-made design for President Donald Trump’s Golden Fleet plan.
The decision by Navy Secretary John Phelan comes just weeks after the service canceled all future orders for the Constellation-class frigate, a project which was over-budget and delayed due to volatile design changes.
In a video message on Friday, Phelan said the new frigate, based on the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Legends-class national security cutter design, would be part of Trump’s “Golden Fleet” and “built on a proven American design, in American shipyards, with an American supply chain.” Designs for the Constellation class were based on the Italian FREMM frigate design developed by shipbuilder Fincantieri.
The first new frigate hull is expected to launch in 2028, the Navy secretary added.
HII will build the vessel. It said its shipbuilders “will once again engage in construction activities alongside its destroyer and amphibious ship shipbuilding lines where the national security cutters were built, using the same sequence of build.” The company is also working on the latest version of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the America-class amphibious assault vessels, and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships.
HII previously built 10 Legend-class cutters for the Coast Guard, with the final vessel delivered in October 2023.
Basing the new frigate on an already complete design “will allow the Navy and shipbuilders to reduce cost, schedule, and technical risk,” Adm. Darryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, said.
It remains unclear what, if any, design changes have or will be made to the Legend-class cutter design for this new frigate. It is also unknown how many vessels will be built. Phelan said the Navy will build the first vessel using HII as the lead yard. Other yards may build follow-on ships.
Late last month, Phelan said the Navy had a new framework that would put new classes of ships on a faster shipbuilding timeline after the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate. The Constellation class, based on the Italian navy design, was originally expected to have roughly 80% commonality.
Radical design changes weren’t part of the plan, but plans change. That figure dropped to 15%, and the design changes to the Constellation ultimately led to its severe delays and cost overruns.
Two Constellation-class frigates are still under construction by Wisconsin-based shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine; however, 20 were originally ordered for $22 billion in 2020.
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