U.S. Navy's Constellation-class frigate faces major design setbacks

In the United States, the U.S. Navy is facing extensive challenges with its Constellation-class frigate program, which is critical for the future of naval defense capabilities. As of June 2025, the lead ship, USS Constellation, is under construction with only about 10% of the work completed since construction began over two years ago. Originally scheduled for delivery in 2026, the completion date has now been pushed back to 2029, representing a significant delay that has raised concerns about the project’s viability and future naval operations. The program was initially intended to leverage the established design of the Franco-Italian FREMM frigate with an 85% design commonality. However, the actual progress has diverged sharply from this goal, leading to only about 15% commonality remaining in the design. Extensive Navy requirements have necessitated a range of structural changes and system expansions, which contributed to the increased length, width, and displacement of the vessel, now weighing in at 759 metric tons over the original plan, a staggering 13 percent rise in weight. These unforeseen changes may severely impact the frigate's speed, stability, and overall performance at sea. As part of addressing these substantial hurdles, U.S. Navy officials and the shipbuilders at Marinette Marine are exploring the possibility of involving a second shipyard in the production process. This would help alleviate the production demands that have arisen due to the increased size and complexity of the design changes made during development. In light of the current state of uncertainty, the U.S. Congress has taken steps to press pause on any future orders of the frigates until the Navy can stabilize the current design specifications, a process that diverges from standard shipbuilding practices. Most recently, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has criticized the Navy for commencing construction without a stable design, a situation that has resulted in a substantial 70% change in requirements since the contract was signed. Moving forward, the Navy is expected to outline its strategy for the Constellation-class frigate in the 2026 budget, prompting urgent discussions about the project's future stability and its implications for naval readiness.