Constellation-class frigate

An artist's rendering of the final Constellation-class design
Class overview
NameConstellation class
BuildersFincantieri Marinette Marine
Operators United States Navy (projected)
Preceded by
Cost
  • US$1.28 billion for the first ship[1]
  • US$1.05 billion for the second ship[1]
Built2024–present
In commission2029 (planned)[2]
Planned20[3]
On order6
Building1
General characteristics
Typeguided-missile frigate
Displacement7,291 tons, fully loaded[4]
Length496 ft (151.18 m)[4]
Beam65 ft (19.81 m)[4]
Propulsion
  • CODLAG
    • 1 × General Electric LM2500+G4 gas turbine[5]
    • 2 × electric propulsion motors: INDAR 2 x 3.4 MW
    • 4 × ship service diesel generators Rolls-Royce MTU 20V 4000 M53B engine 3000 kW for a total output of 12 MW
    • reduction gears: Timken Power Systems or Philadelphia Gears
    • 2 x fixed-pitch propellers
    • 1 × auxiliary propulsion unit Thrustmasters of Texas Hydrologic Retractable Thruster[4]
Speedin excess of 26 kn (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph), electric drive
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × rigid-hulled inflatable boats
Capacity200 accommodations
Complement24 officers and 176 enlisted crew
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • extra-large hangar for 1 MH-60R & 1 MQ-8C
  • RAST Secure & Traverse Aircraft Handling System
  • Horizontal Reference System
  • Night Vision Device Compatibility

The Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates of the United States Navy are based on the European multipurpose frigates (FREMM), already in service with the French and Italian navies. Constellation follows the modular but problematic littoral combat ships of the Freedom and Independence classes.[14] The U.S. Navy announced the FFG(X) frigate project in the United States Department of Defense's Request For Information (RFI) in July 2017.[13][15]

The Navy selected five shipbuilders to present their ideas for a prospective design for the proposed twenty FFG(X) guided-missile frigates.[3] In April 2020, the Navy announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine had won the contract with a modified design based on the FREMM, designed by Naval Group and Fincantieri. The project was later renamed FFG-62 program after the lead ship of her class.[16]

  1. ^ a b "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)" summary. USNI, 1 February 2022.
  2. ^ Shelbourne, Mallory. "Constellation Frigate Delivery Delayed 3 Years, Says Navy". USNI News. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ^ a b LaGrone, Sam; Eckstein, Megan (16 February 2018). "Navy Picks Five Contenders for Next Generation Frigate FFG(X) Program". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference defensenews 2021.3.4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ [1] GE, The LM2500+G4 Engine
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference SNA 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ O'Rourke, Ronald. "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 15. R44972. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  8. ^ a b Campbell, Regan (15 January 2019). "FFG(X) Update: National Symposium – Surface Navy Association" (PDF). navsea.navy.mil. p. 3. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  9. ^ Burgess, Richard R. (31 August 2022). "First Steel Cut for Navy's Constellation-Class Frigate". Seapower. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. ^ "FY22 DOT&E Annual Report" (PDF). Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. p. 186. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Navy Completes Lightweight Torpedo Defense Mission Module Testing". navy.mil. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Text - H.R.7776 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
  13. ^ a b Larter, David B. (10 July 2017). "Frigate competition wide open: Navy specs reveal major design shift". Defense News. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. ^ O'Rourke, Ronald (8 December 2017). "Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  15. ^ Eckstein, Megan (10 July 2017). "Navy Releases Details of New FFG(X) Guided-Missile Frigate Program in Request to Industry". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)". USNI News. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-09-05.