Constellation-class frigate

The U.S. Navy contracted for the first FFG 62 in FY2020. ==Design==

The U.S. Navy's intention to contract for the first FFG(X) in 2020 did not allow enough time to develop a completely new design for the platform. Consequently, the U.S. Navy intended for the design of the FFG(X) to be a modified version of an existing "parent" ship design. The U.S. Navy would like for the ship to be able to: The new propulsion system was planned to be tested on land in order to reduce the risk of engine failure, which has plagued the previous littoral combat ship (LCS) program. Other problems included their high cost (double original projection) and high maintenance costs. Contenders Six shipbuilders submitted proposals for conceptual designs to the U.S. Navy FFG(X) Frigate program. In February 2018, the U.S. Navy announced that from these proposals they had selected five shipbuilders with each awarded a $15-million contract to produce conceptual designs for the FFG(X). leaving four competitors for the Navy ship contract. Contract award On 30 April 2020, it was announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine's FREMM design had won the contest. Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), in Marinette, Wisconsin, was awarded a $795-million contract for detailed design and construction of the lead ship, Constellation, with options for nine additional ships. In May 2021, the U.S. Navy issued FMM a $554-million contract to start building the future . By May 2024, a total of six ships had been contracted for with FMM, and the Navy's 2025 budget included funds for the seventh ship. ==Construction==

On 2 April 2024, USNI News reported that the Constellation-class frigates were delayed by three years by issues concerning shipyard backlogs and a lack of skilled workers. A year later, in April 2025, it was reported that the first frigate of the class, Constellation, was only 10 percent complete. Furthermore, the design had yet to be finalized and approved. At the time, Constellation was reported to be 12 percent complete. == Ships of the class ==

In June 2021, the Navy announced that Naval Station Everett in Washington would be the future home of the first 12 ships of the class. Naming In April 2020, four ship names were proposed by outgoing acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly as part of a draft announcement. He expressed a desire for the first ship to be named Agility with the class designated Agility class. Other names put forward were Intrepid, Endeavor, and Dauntless. However, Navy leaders said Modly's proposed names would not be adopted. In July 2020, it was reported by The War Zone that the lead ship would be named USS Brooke (FFG-80). Later the U.S. Navy clarified via Twitter that reports about reusing the USS Brooke name for a new warship were erroneous. In October 2020, Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite announced the first FFG(X) frigate would be named USS Constellation (FFG-62). In December 2020, Secretary Braithwaite announced that the second ship of the class will be named USS Congress (FFG-63). In January 2021, Secretary Braithwaite announced that the third ship of the class will be named USS Chesapeake (FFG-64). All three ships are named after three of the U.S. Navy's original six frigates. United States ship naming conventions have historically named frigates after U.S. Navy and Marine Corps heroes or leaders. A report to Congress in February 2021 advised that the U.S. Navy had not stated that this naming scheme was a change in their rules for naming ships. ==See also==