The U.S. Navy has abruptly altered its course on shipbuilding, a decisive move underscored by the recent cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program and the immediate award of a new contract to design a replacement. This strategic pivot, announced on December 19 by Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Darryl Caudle, places Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), at the forefront of a critical effort to accelerate the expansion of the American naval fleet. The new Small Surface Combatant (SSC), officially designated FF(X), represents more than just a new vessel; it is the centerpiece of a renewed push to counter evolving maritime threats with speed, reliability, and domestic industrial strength. The termination of the Constellation class on November 25 sent ripples through the defense industry, but the swift announcement of its successor signals an unwavering commitment from naval leadership to rectify past challenges and chart a more predictable and efficient path toward a larger, more capable fleet.
A Strategic Pivot to Proven Technology
The fundamental driver behind this dramatic shift in strategy is the urgent need to move away from the developmental risks that plagued its predecessor and embrace a proven, reliable platform. The Constellation program, while ambitious, became mired in delays and unforeseen challenges, hindering the Navy’s ability to grow the fleet at the required pace. In a direct response, the new FF(X) program abandons the previous design entirely, opting instead for a frigate derived from the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC). This vessel, already in successful service with the U.S. Coast Guard, provides a stable and well-understood foundation, significantly mitigating the technical and scheduling risks associated with a clean-sheet design. By leveraging a platform with an established operational track record, the Navy aims to create a stable and predictable production schedule, ensuring a consistent delivery of new combatants. This approach is seen as essential for closing the gap in naval capacity and fielding a force capable of addressing the complex security environment.
Beyond its reliable hull, the FF(X) is envisioned as a highly versatile, multi-mission combatant engineered to address a critical capability gap within the current fleet structure. Its primary function will be to augment the Navy’s high-end warships, handling a wide spectrum of tasks for which deploying a larger, more expensive guided-missile destroyer (DDG) would be inefficient or impractical. Admiral Caudle recently highlighted the severity of the shortfall by stating, “Our small surface combatant inventory is a third of what we need,” emphasizing the frigate’s role in freeing up DDGs to concentrate on major combat operations. To achieve this versatility, the FF(X) design incorporates modular payloads, allowing the vessel to be rapidly adapted for specific missions, from anti-submarine warfare to surface combat. Furthermore, the frigate is being designed with advanced integration capabilities for unmanned systems, enabling it to operate as a nexus for controlling aerial drones and unmanned surface and undersea vessels, thereby extending its reach and situational awareness on the modern battlefield.
An All-American Approach to Shipbuilding
A foundational tenet of the new frigate program is a resolute commitment to bolstering the American industrial base and ensuring complete operational independence from foreign supply chains. Secretary Phelan has been unequivocal that the FF(X) project will be an exclusively domestic endeavor, leveraging U.S. manufacturing, resources, suppliers, and logistics networks from keel to mast. This “All-American” approach is a central component of the administration’s broader “Golden Fleet” strategy, which seeks to revitalize domestic shipbuilding and ensure that the nation’s naval power is not contingent on foreign industry. The program’s timeline is equally ambitious, with a stated objective to launch the first hull by 2028. This accelerated schedule reflects the urgency of the Navy’s requirement for more ships and places immense pressure on the industrial partners to deliver. Meeting this aggressive target will require unprecedented collaboration between the Navy and its contractors, streamlining processes that have historically contributed to delays in other shipbuilding programs.
To realize this vision, the Navy established a production strategy that began with a lead-yard approach, entrusting Ingalls Shipbuilding to spearhead the initial design and construction phases. This decision leveraged the company’s extensive experience, which included the successful delivery of ten Legend-class cutters and the management of other critical naval projects, positioning Ingalls as an ideal partner for this pivotal transformation. Following the initial build, the plan called for a competitive strategy that would open construction to multiple shipyards, a method designed to expedite the delivery of combat-ready ships to the fleet by expanding the industrial capacity dedicated to the program. This multi-pronged approach was intended not only to meet the aggressive delivery timelines but also to foster a more resilient and competitive shipbuilding ecosystem within the United States. The FF(X) initiative was ultimately framed as a landmark effort to correct the course of naval procurement and forge a new, more reliable path toward rebuilding American maritime strength.
