The Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates of the United States Navy are based on the European multipurpose frigates (FREMM), already in service with the French and Italian navies. Constellation follows the modular but problematic littoral combat ships of the Freedom and Independence classes.^[14] The U.S. Navy announced the FFG(X) frigate project in the United States Department of Defense's Request For Information (RFI) in July 2017.^[13][15]

Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...

An artist's rendering of the final Constellation-class design
Class overview
Name	Constellation class
Builders	Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Operators	United States Navy (projected)
Preceded by	Freedom and Independence classes Oliver Hazard Perry class (last class with FFG hull code)
Cost	US$1.28 billion for the first ship[1] US$1.05 billion for the second ship[1]
Built	2022–present
In commission	2029 (planned)[2]
Planned	20[3]
On order	6
Building	1
General characteristics
Type	guided-missile frigate
Displacement	7,291 tons, fully loaded[4]
Length	496 ft (151.18 m)[4]
Beam	65 ft (19.81 m)[4]
Propulsion	CODLAG 1 × General Electric LM2500+G4 gas turbine[5] 2 × electric propulsion motors: INDAR 2 x 3.4 MW 4 × ship service diesel generators Rolls-Royce MTU 20V 4000 M53B engine 3000 kW for a total output of 12 MW reduction gears: Timken Power Systems or Philadelphia Gears 2 x fixed-pitch propellers 1 × auxiliary propulsion unit Thrustmasters of Texas Hydrologic Retractable Thruster[4]
Speed	in excess of 26 kn (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph), electric drive
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × rigid-hulled inflatable boats
Capacity	200 accommodations
Complement	24 officers and 176 enlisted crew
Sensors and processing systems	Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System[4] AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR)[6] AN/SPS-73(V)18 - Next Generation Surface Search Radar Thales Group CAPTAS-4 Low Frequency Variable-Depth Sonar[7] TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array[8] AN/SQQ-89(V)16 undersea warfare/anti-submarine warfare combat system[9] Cooperative Engagement Capability
Electronic warfare & decoys	AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare suite[10] 4 × Mark 53 Nulka decoy launching system AN/SLQ-61 Lightweight Tow Torpedo Defense Mission Module[8][11]
Armament	32 Mark 41 VLS cells with: BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile[12] Possibly RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 and/or RIM-174 Standard ERAM missiles Planned RIM-66 Standard SM-2 Block 3C 16 × canister-launched over-the-horizon anti-ship weapons (likely Naval Strike Missile) RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launched from Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System (21 cell) Mk 110 57 mm gun with the Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance (ALaMO) projectile and related systems.[13] Various machine guns M240 or M2
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopter MQ-8C Firescout
Aviation facilities	extra-large hangar for 1 MH-60R & 1 MQ-8C RAST Secure & Traverse Aircraft Handling System Horizontal Reference System Night Vision Device Compatibility

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The Navy selected five shipbuilders to present their ideas for a prospective design for the proposed twenty FFG(X) guided-missile frigates.^[3] In April 2020, the Navy announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine had won the contract with a modified design based on the FREMM, designed by Naval Group and Fincantieri. The project was later renamed FFG-62 program after the lead ship of her class.^[16]

The U.S. Navy procured the first FFG 62 in FY2020. The next was awarded in April 2021, and the third is planned to be awarded in FY22. The U.S. Navy's proposed FY2020 budget request was $1.281-billion for the procurement of the first FFG 62. The U.S. Navy's FY2020 budget submission shows that subsequent ships in the class are estimated by the Navy to cost $850 to $950-million each in then-year dollars.^[17][4]

The U.S. Navy's intention to buy 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.^[14]: 8 The RFI says, "A competition for FFG(X) is envisioned to consider existing parent designs for a Small Surface Combatant that can be modified to accommodate the specific capability requirements prescribed by the U.S. Navy."^[13]

The U.S. Navy wanted a frigate that could keep up with the aircraft carriers and have sensors networked in with the rest of the fleet to expand the overall tactical picture available to the group. "The FFG(X) will normally aggregate into strike groups and Large Surface Combatant led surface action groups but also possess the ability to robustly defend itself during conduct of independent operations while connected and contributing to the fleet tactical grid."^[13]

In January 2019, the U.S. Navy announced that the new frigate will have a minimum of 32 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System cells aboard the ship for primarily anti-air warfare for self-defense or escort missions.^[18]

The U.S. Navy would like for the ship to be able to:

• Destroy surface ships over the horizon,
• Detect enemy submarines,
• Defend convoy ships,
• Employ active and passive electronic warfare systems,
• Defend against swarming small boat attacks.^[13]

The class will use a Combined Diesel Electric and Gas Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) propulsion system, which has never been used in any other U.S. Navy ship.^[19] The new propulsion system will be required to be tested on land in order to reduce the risk of engine failure, which has plagued the previous littoral combat ship (LCS) program.^[19]

The ongoing difficulties with the LCS was a major factor in the US Navy's decision to kickstart the Constellation program. According to the Congressional Research Service, ongoing concerns include LCS survivability in a conflict, their limited armament, and their ability to complete the missions it was designed for.^[20] Other problems include their high cost price, double their original projections, and maintenance costs.^[21]

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.^[34]

• Daegu-class frigate (South Korea)
• Defence and intervention frigate (France)
• Nilgiri-class frigate (India)
• Tamandaré-class frigate (Brazil)
• Type 26 frigates (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada)
• Type 31 frigates (United Kingdom, Poland, and Indonesia)