US EditionU.S. Navy cuts orders for frigate Trump once touted as ‘beautiful’
The Navy will cancel four of six Constellation-class frigates, redirecting $7.6 billion toward faster, more producible ships to meet emerging threats, officials said.
- Yesterday, the U.S. Navy announced it will reduce Constellation-class frigate orders to two, terminating the last four hulls not yet under construction.
- Amid a Pentagon `speed to delivery` push, officials cited program delays, repeated design changes, and weight growth exceeding tolerances that undermined Fincantieri's FREMM baseline design.
- Industry figures show the Navy has sunk about $2 billion into the Constellation program, with an initial contract valued at $5.5 billion and Fincantieri investing more than $800 million in U.S. yards.
- The Navy will seek reappropriation of unspent frigate funds with U.S. Congress in the coming weeks while continuing work on USS Constellation and USS Congress under Fincantieri Marine Group indemnities.
- The move fits a broader plan as fleet composition analysts highlight a shift toward smaller surface ships and unmanned vessels in a generational force adjustment for the Indo-Pacific region.
23 Articles
23 Articles
The Navy’s Constellation-Class Frigate Has a Message for the U.S. Navy
Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Navy is abruptly walking away from most of its Constellation-class frigate program, canceling four of six planned ships and keeping only USS Constellation and USS Congress. Officials say the move is about speed: redirecting unspent funds into ships that Marinette can deliver faster, and reshaping the fleet for a more dispersed fight against China’s A2/AD networks. An artist rendering of the U.S. Navy guided-miss…
US Navy nixes Constellation frigate program after two ships half-built
ROME — The US Navy is cancelling its Constellation frigate program following months of cost overruns and delays but plans to keep two vessels that are already being built in Wisconsin.“We’re reshaping how we build and field the Fleet, working with industry to deliver warfighting advantage, beginning with a strategic shift away from the Constellation-class frigate program,” Navy Secretary John C. Phelan said in a post on X.Phelan said that four s…
US Navy nixes Constellation frigate program after two ships half-built
ROME — The US Navy is cancelling its Constellation frigate program following months of cost overruns and delays but plans to keep two vessels that are already being built in Wisconsin.“We’re reshaping how we build and field the Fleet, working with industry to deliver warfighting advantage, beginning with a strategic shift away from the Constellation-class frigate program,” Navy Secretary John C. Phelan said in a post on X.Phelan said that four s…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
