China’s Ship Building Spree Forces New U.S. Warship

Rendering of USS Constellation (FFG-62). Fincantieri Image

Harrison Kass of the National Interest reports the Constellation-class, the U.S. Navy’s latest guided-missile frigate, is under construction, aiming to enhance multi-mission capabilities with a design based on the European FREMM. Kass writes:

The Constellation-class, the U.S. Navy’s latest guided-missile frigate, is under construction, aiming to enhance multi-mission capabilities with a design based on the European FREMM. Scheduled for a 2026 commission, the Navy plans to build 20 ships to bolster its fleet against growing maritime threats, notably from China. […]

The US investment in sophisticated and futuristic surface vessels is no coincidence. China, the most direct threat to US hegemony, is currently engaged in one of world history’s most ambitious shipbuilding sprees. China has already expanded their navy sufficiently to claim the world’s largest naval force. And while the quality of US vessels still exceeds that of China’s, the sheer numbers of China’s fleet are concerning – especially when paired with China’s aggressive posturing throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Any conflict with China, any need to defend US allies in the Indo-Pacific, will depend heavily upon the deployment of naval forces – like the forthcoming Constellation.

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Facts about the Constellation-Class Guided-Missile Frigate (FFG 62)

Facts from Navy.mil on the Constellation-Class Guided-Missile Frigate (FFG 62):

The Constellation-Class Guided-Missile Frigate (FFG 62) represents the Navy’s next generation small surface combatant. This ship class will be an agile, multi-mission warship, capable of operations in both blue-water and littoral environments, providing increased combat-credible forward presence that provides a military advantage at sea.

Features
FFG 62 will be fielded with multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electromagnetic maneuver warfare. These capabilities include an Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR), Baseline Ten (BL10) Aegis Combat System, an Mk 41 Vertical Launch System, communications systems, countermeasures and added capability in the electronic warfare/information operations area with design flexibility for future growth.

Background
On April 30, 2020, the Navy awarded the Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) contract for 10 ships (one base-year ship and nine option ships) and obligated funding for FFG 62 to Marinette Marine Corporation (also known as Fincantieri Marinette Marine) in Marinette, Wisconsin. The contract was awarded through a full and open competition with multiple offers received.

The Future USS Constellation (FFG 62), the lead ship of the class, began construction in September 2022. The program continues to conduct Early Integration Testing of the combat system, primary propulsion equipment and associated networks.

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Schedule Delays for the USS Constellation (FFG-62)

Mallory Shelbourne and Sam Lagrone of USNI News report delays in the FFG-62 Frigate schedule of at least a year due to workforce shortfalls. They write:

The first Constellation-class guided-missile frigate will deliver at least a year late due in large part to workforce shortfalls at the Wisconsin yard where it’s built, USNI News has learned.

The service has briefed Congress that the future USS Constellation (FFG-62) could deliver in 2027 and that shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine has undergone an independent review to assess the delay, a legislative source confirmed to USNI News this week. […]

It’s unclear how the delay in the delivery of the first-in-class frigate will affect the deployment schedule of Constellation. The first dozen of the anti-submarine warfare-focused ships will be based at Naval Station Everett, Wash.

The Navy issued Fincantieri a $795 million detail design and construction contract for the first ship in 2020. Then, the service awarded follow-on contracts for Congress (FFG-63) in 2021, Chesapeake (FFG-64) in 2022 and Lafayette (FFG-65) in 2023.

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