Navy Cancels Troubled Constellation Frigate Program
The U.S. Navy has officially scrapped its ambitious Constellation-class frigate program, a dramatic reversal that halts one of the service’s most highly anticipated shipbuilding efforts in years. The decision, announced on Tuesday, comes after mounting delays, cost overruns, and design uncertainties surrounding the program’s execution. According to a report titled “US Navy nixes Constellation frigate program after two ships half-built” published by Defense News, the Navy has opted to cut its losses and redirect resources rather than push forward with a troubled acquisition.
The Constellation-class frigates were intended to become the workhorse of the Navy’s future surface fleet—versatile, compact, and technologically advanced enough to operate in contested environments. Yet, despite the initial enthusiasm and a $795 million lead ship contract awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine in 2020, the program has struggled to meet key milestones. Only two ships—USS Constellation and USS Congress—had entered construction, and both are now indefinitely paused at approximately 50% completion.
In briefings with reporters, Navy officials cited a confluence of factors driving the cancellation. Design maturation of the frigates lagged far behind expectations, resulting in delays of more than three years for the lead ship. These delays were compounded by rising costs and ongoing uncertainty about the maturity of the ship’s systems integration. While the Navy had planned to procure at least 20 of the vessels, the persistently unsteady rollout eroded confidence and drew scrutiny from Congress.
Fincantieri’s role in the program’s struggles has also come into focus. The Italian shipbuilder, through its Wisconsin-based subsidiary, was expected to deliver the first frigate by 2026. Instead, the shipyard found itself mired in design challenges and escalating production risks. Navy officials were reportedly unable to clearly project when the lead ship would be completed or delivered—a major red flag for a program initially touted for its rapid deployment potential.
The broader implications of the decision are substantial. Lawmakers, particularly those representing regions dependent on shipbuilding contracts, are likely to demand accountability for the hundreds of millions already invested. The Navy, meanwhile, must revisit how it designs and procures surface combatants amid an increasingly contested maritime environment and a resurgent threat from China in the Indo-Pacific.
The cancellation also reopens longstanding questions about the Navy’s acquisition strategy, especially its ability to adapt European-developed platforms for U.S. requirements. The Constellation-class was based on Italy’s FREMM design, a proven vessel in European fleets. However, integrating American combat systems and adapting the design to meet U.S. Navy standards introduced cascading complications.
As the Navy pivots from the Constellation program, senior leaders have indicated that lessons learned will inform future procurement approaches. “We decided it was in the best interest of the Navy and the taxpayer to reassess rather than continue investing in a program whose future was increasingly uncertain,” a senior Navy official told reporters.
What replaces the frigate project remains to be seen. With geopolitical tensions rising and the Navy’s surface fleet aging, pressure mounts to deliver a viable alternative that can balance cost, capability, and schedule considerations. In the meantime, the abrupt end of the Constellation-class frigates stands as a sobering marker of the challenges the Navy faces in modernizing for great power competition.
