Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the start of construction work on the first of the US Navy’s new Constellation-class frigates with a steel cutting ceremony on August 31.
Future USS Constellation (FFG 62) will be the first frigate to be built for the US Navy since the service received its final Oliver Hazard Perry-class ship in 1989.
The start of construction follows a detailed Navy assessment of the maturity of the design and readiness of the shipyard to begin construction through a successful production readiness review (PRR) milestone on July 20.
Constellation-class frigates will be a key component of the recently released Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) 2022, which envisions a future hybrid fleet composed of 350 manned ships and approximately 150 unmanned ships.
The ships will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations. Shipboard systems will include an Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) radar, Baseline Ten (BL10) AEGIS combat system, a Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS), communications systems, MK 110 57mm gun weapon system (GWS) and added capability in the electronic warfare/information operations area.
The US Navy has so far awarded Fincantieri funds for work on the first three ships in the class, while a total of 20 are currently planned for construction.
“Our team has worked tirelessly with industry partners to develop an innovative acquisition approach to efficiently procure and produce a 21st century frigate. The start of Constellation’s construction marks a key milestone on our path to build and deliver this new capability to the fleet,” said Rear Adm. Casey Moton, Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC).
PEO USC oversees the Constellation-class frigate program office (PMS 515) charged with the design, development and construction of the Navy’s newest warship class.
The new frigates are designed to operate in both open ocean and littoral environments, as part of a carrier or expeditionary strike group or a surface action group.
“The frigate program has worked diligently to minimize risks by selecting non-developmental systems and proven program of record equipment to meet our requirements, and by conducting this rigorous PRR,” said Capt. Kevin Smith, PMS 515 Program Manager.
Fincantieri is expected to deliver future USS Constellation by 2026. The ships are based on Fincantieri’s FREMM frigate design, which is in service with the navies of France and Italy, as well as Egypt and Morocco.
The first three ships in the class are named USS Constellation (FFG 62), USS Congress (FFG 63) and USS Chesapeake (FFG 64), in honor of the original heavy frigates that the United States started to build in 1794.
