$22B Naval Bet ABANDONED

The U.S. Navy has abandoned its troubled $22 billion Constellation-class frigate program and will instead build new warships based on a proven Coast Guard cutter design, marking a dramatic shift toward American-built solutions after years of foreign dependency disasters.

Story Highlights

Navy cancels most Constellation frigates after 36-month delays and cost overruns on European design
New FF(X) frigates will use Coast Guard’s proven Legend-class National Security Cutter hull
Trump administration’s “Golden Fleet” strategy emphasizes more small combatants built faster
First new American-designed frigates expected in water by 2028 at Mississippi shipyard

Trump Navy Ditches Failed European Design

Navy Secretary John Phelan announced December 19, 2025, that the service will terminate the bulk of its Constellation-class frigate program and pivot to building FF(X) frigates based on Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Legend-class National Security Cutter. The Constellation program, based on a Franco-Italian FREMM design, suffered catastrophic delays of 36 months on its $22 billion contract, plagued by design changes, worker shortages, and integration challenges that epitomized everything wrong with relying on foreign shipbuilding concepts.

The Navy will accept only the first two Constellation ships, USS Constellation and USS Congress, with the lead ship now projected for 2029 delivery instead of the original 2026 timeline. This leaves Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin with significantly reduced work and raises serious questions about the industrial base consequences of chasing expensive foreign solutions instead of proven American designs.

Coast Guard Cutter Becomes Navy Frigate

The FF(X) program represents an unprecedented cross-service design adaptation, transforming the Coast Guard’s battle-tested Legend-class National Security Cutter into a Navy frigate. These cutters have served reliably for nearly two decades, with 10 hulls delivered and proven performance in global operations. The 4,500-4,700 ton vessels feature 12,000 nautical mile range, 60-90 day endurance, and cost approximately $670 million per ship in Coast Guard configuration.

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, will serve as the lead builder, leveraging its mature NSC production line and experienced workforce. The approach prioritizes rapid delivery over perfectionist engineering, with Navy leadership stating shipyards will be judged on “one outcome—delivering combat power to the fleet as fast as possible.” This represents a welcome departure from the requirements creep and technical over-reach that doomed previous programs like the Littoral Combat Ship and Zumwalt destroyer.

Golden Fleet Strategy Emphasizes American Strength

The FF(X) decision aligns with President Trump’s Golden Fleet concept, which emphasizes larger numbers of small surface combatants and unmanned vessels alongside heavily armed capital ships. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly endorsed the “smart, quick, affordable” approach, recognizing that America needs more deployable ships faster rather than fewer expensive platforms that take decades to field.

Navy leadership acknowledges the service currently operates only one-third of required small surface combatants, a critical gap exposed by high-tempo operations in the Red Sea and Caribbean. The FF(X) frigates will focus primarily on surface warfare, carry modular payloads, command unmanned systems, and provide escort duties without risking higher-value destroyers. This practical approach reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts where quantity and availability matter more than individual platform sophistication.