US Navy: Third Constellation frigate under contract with Marinette

In July 2017, the U.S. Navy's Department of Defence announced the tender for the FFG(X) frigate project with twenty units. The FFG(X) was to be the successor to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS, Independence and Freedom classes), which did not quite meet the Navy's expectations precisely because of its complex, expensive and vulnerable modularity. It selected five shipbuilders worldwide who were asked to submit their designs for the planned FFG(X) missile frigate. In the US, the procurement process separates the design selection and the award of a single-ship construction contract. In April 2020, it was then announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Italy) had been awarded the contract for a design based on the Franco-Italian FREMM (frégate multimission). This shipbuilder had provided the frigates with expansion potential and power reserves so that they would remain capable of development throughout their service life should new equipment be commissioned.

Americanisation

Even if the design was of Franco-Italian origin, the Navy and the naval developers Gibbs & Cox made extensive revisions to the plans in order to meet American standards on board right down to the last corner. The project was later renamed the FFG 62 programme or Constellation class, after the type ship had been named.

About the ship type

With an estimated displacement of around 6,700 tonnes (7,300 short tons, US measurement) when fully loaded, the "Connies", as they are already nicknamed, will go to sea from 2027 with a crew of around 200. They will be equipped with a variant of the AN/SPY-6 radar, which is also being installed on the 3rd batch of Arleigh Burke-class Flight III FK destroyers. In addition, there will be the Aegis command and weapon guidance system (Baseline 10) and a vertical launch silo with 32 cells for the air defence system as well as launch containers for 16 Naval Strike Missile missiles.

Graphic representation of the new FFG(X) Constellation-class multi-mission frigate. Graphic: Fincantieri

First orders

Last year, Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin, was also awarded the contract to build the first frigate, the future USS Constellation (FFG 62). The shipyard, owned by Italian parent company Fincantieri, won the contract against several US competitors, including Huntington Ingalls Industries, Austal USA, and a team from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Navantia (Spain).

The order for the second ship in the series, the future USS Congress (FFG 63)went to Marinette Marine.

Latest development

In mid-June, the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Washington, D.C., exercised another option for the Navy and awarded Marinette Marine a contract worth approximately USD 537 million for the detailed design, construction, performance integrated support and fabrication of the digital environment for the third Constellation-class guided missile frigate, the future USS Chesapeake (FFG 64) issued. The work should be completed by August 2028.