U.S. Navy cancels Constellation-class Frigate program, shifts focus to faster-built small combatants
The U.S. Navy has announced a major restructuring of its surface fleet modernization plans, officially cancelling most of the Constellation-class frigate program in favor of new classes of small warships that can be designed and built more rapidly. The decision was made public on Tuesday by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who described the move as the first step in a broader effort to overhaul naval shipbuilding.
Under the new agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the Wisconsin shipbuilder will complete only the first two frigates—USS Constellation (FFG-62) and USS Congress (FFG-63). The remaining four planned ships, which had not yet begun construction, will be canceled.
“We are reshaping how the Navy builds its fleet,” Phelan wrote. “This framework terminates, for the Navy’s convenience, the last four ships of the class. It is part of a strategic shift away from the Constellation program.”
Fleet Growth and Speed Drive the Decision
A senior defense official said the move reflects the Pentagon’s growing urgency to expand the fleet quickly to counter future threats.
“A key factor in this decision is the need to grow the fleet faster,” the official said. “We must deliver new classes of ships to the warfighter in greater numbers and at a faster pace.”
The decision aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new acquisition doctrine, laid out in his “Arsenal of Freedom” speech on Nov. 7, which prioritized rapid delivery across all major procurement programs.
Navy Pursuing New Generation of Small Surface Combatants
The Navy is conducting a comprehensive fleet design review and is accelerating development of several new platforms, including:
- the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) amphibious vessel,
- multiple large unmanned surface vehicles,
- and other next-generation small surface combatants.
The Navy maintains a requirement for 73 small surface combatants, a figure that will heavily influence upcoming ship designs.
Keeping Marinette Shipyard Alive
Although most of the Constellation program is ending, the Navy will still complete the first two frigates to ensure continued operation of the three-yard Marinette shipbuilding complex on Lake Michigan, where roughly 3,000 workers are employed.
With the Constellation program reduced to two hulls, Marinette’s remaining work includes:
- the final Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship,
- four Multi-Mission Surface Combatants for the Royal Saudi Navy,
- and potential future contracts involving amphibious ships, icebreakers, and special-mission vessels.
Technical Challenges and Cost Growth
Despite being based on the proven European FREMM frigate, the U.S. version encountered major design challenges. Extensive modifications were required to meet stricter American survivability standards, resulting in:
- an estimated three-year delay for the first ship,
- a revised delivery date from 2026 to 2029,
- and a price tag approaching $1.5 billion per ship.
To date, the Navy has spent $2 billion on the program, while Congress has appropriated $7.6 billion for the initial six ships.
Former Navy acquisition chief Nickolas Guertin summarized the difficulty earlier this year:
“Sometimes you’re better off designing a new ship. Modifying someone else’s design is a lot harder than it seems.”
Reallocating Frigate Funding
The Navy now plans to work with Congress to redirect a portion of the unspent frigate funds toward new ship classes that can be produced more quickly at Marinette.
“We hope to retain the funds and reallocate them to ships that can be delivered to the fleet faster,” a senior Navy official told USNI News.
The cancellation represents one of the most consequential procurement pivots in recent Navy history and highlights a strategic shift toward speed, shipyard flexibility, and rapid adaptation in the face of rising global maritime threats.■
