The United States Navy, in a significant stride towards naval modernization, has awarded Fincantieri Marinette Marine a $1.04 billion contract to construct two additional Constellation-class frigates.

This expansion is part of a broader strategy to bolster maritime capabilities in the face of escalating global tensions. This contract underscores the Navy’s commitment to reinforcing its surface warfare, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare operations in littoral zones.

The announcement made by the Pentagon on May 23 indicates that the Wisconsin-based shipbuilder will produce the FFG-66 and FFG-67, marking the fifth and sixth vessels of their kind, with completion expected by April 2030.

The USS Hamilton, FFG-66, pays tribute to Alexander Hamilton, the US Coast Guard founder. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro elaborated, “(Hamilton) understood that we, as a maritime nation, needed to establish ourselves from the outset as a maritime power.” He further said that the ship “will sail around the world, representing the freedom and ideals its namesake spent his life advocating for.”

Despite the shipbuilding firm’s delayed delivery of the lead ship, initially promised by 2026 and now rescheduled for December 2027, the contract exemplifies the Navy’s resolution to progress.

The delay, now totaling 36 months behind schedule, was attributed to “post award realities” by a Fincantieri spokesperson, though further details were not expounded.

The Navy’s decision to award this contract to Fincantieri echoes a triumphant competitive process that commenced more than a decade ago with the vision of a new class of guided-missile frigates.

Fincantieri’s FREMM multi-mission frigate design, employed by both French and Italian navies, shaped the foundation for the Constellation-class frigates, marking a significant evolution in the Navy’s fleet capabilities.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday articulated the frigate’s significance, saying, “FFG(X) is the evolution of the Navy’s Small Surface Combatant with increased lethality, survivability, and improved capability to support the National Defense Strategy across the full range of military operations.”

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition James Geurts, highlighted the focused efforts on cost, acquisition, and technical rigor, remarking on the government’s delivery of “the best value for our taxpayers as we deliver a highly capable next-generation frigate to our warfighters.”

The frigates are designed to integrate seamlessly with the Navy’s current technology, featuring systems already deployed across other surface combatants in the fleet. This strategic move not only expedites the frigate design and construction but also yields cost benefits in procurement, maintenance, and sailor training.

In tandem with the contract for the two new frigates, the Navy is actively participating in NATO naval exercises, demonstrating its commitment to collective defense and operational readiness.

The recent Dynamic Mongoose and Neptune Strike series of exercises showcased a robust display of maritime prowess, involving strategic collaboration among NATO allies, with a focus on anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare readiness.

The continued investment in the Navy’s fleet, including the acquisition of advanced frigates, is a clear indication of a strategic pivot towards a more agile and lethal naval force, poised to tackle the maritime challenges of the 21st century.

The investment in these high-tech vessels aligns with the Navy’s broader mission of maintaining superiority on the seas, upholding international norms, and safeguarding global stability amidst a landscape marked by geopolitical volatility.

Relevant articles:
– Fincantieri Lands $1B Deal for US Navy’s Fifth, Sixth Constellation Frigates, The Defense Post
– Fincantieri Wins $795M Contract for Navy Frigate Program, USNI News
– Two Major NATO Naval Exercises Underway, USNI News
– Navy’s new budget request would retire 10 ships early, buy only 6, Breaking Defense