Constellation-class frigate

	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; US$1.05 billion for the second ship;
Built	2024–present
In commission	2029 (planned)
Planned	20
On order	6
Building	1
General characteristics
Type	guided-missile frigate
Displacement	7,291 tons, fully loaded
Length	496 ft (151.18 m)
Beam	65 ft (19.81 m)
Propulsion	CODLAG; 1 × General Electric LM2500+G4 gas turbine; 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 by Philadelphia Gears; 2 x fixed-pitch propellers; 1 × auxiliary propulsion unit Thrustmasters of Texas Hydrologic Retractable Thruster;
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; AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR); AN/SPS-73(V)18 - Next Generation Surface Search Radar; Thales Group CAPTAS-4 Low Frequency Variable-Depth Sonar; TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array; AN/SQQ-89(V)16 undersea warfare/anti-submarine warfare combat system; Cooperative Engagement Capability;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare suite; 4 × Mark 53 Nulka decoy launching system; AN/SLQ-61 Lightweight Tow Torpedo Defense Mission Module;
Armament	32 Mark 41 VLS cells with:; BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile; 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; 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;

The Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates of the United States Navy are based on the European FREMM multipurpose frigate, already in service with the French and Italian navies. Constellation follows the modular but problematic littoral combat ships of the Freedom and Independence classes.^[15] 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.^[14]^[16]

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.^[17]

^ ^a ^b "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)" summary. USNI, 1 February 2022.
^ Shelbourne, Mallory. "Constellation Frigate Delivery Delayed 3 Years, Says Navy". USNI News. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
^ ^a ^b LaGrone, Sam; Eckstein, Megan (16 February 2018). "Navy Picks Five Contenders for Next Generation Frigate FFG(X) Program". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cite error: The named reference defensenews 2021.3.4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ [1] GE, The LM2500+G4 Engine
^ https://news.timken.com/2020-10-21-Timkens-Philadelphia-Gear-to-Supply-Critical-Components-for-U-S-Navy-Frigate-Program
^ Cite error: The named reference SNA 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ O'Rourke, Ronald. "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 15. R44972. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
^ ^a ^b Campbell, Regan (15 January 2019). "FFG(X) Update: National Symposium – Surface Navy Association" (PDF). navsea.navy.mil. p. 3. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^ Burgess, Richard R. (31 August 2022). "First Steel Cut for Navy's Constellation-Class Frigate". Seapower. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
^ "FY22 DOT&E Annual Report" (PDF). Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. p. 186. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ "Navy Completes Lightweight Torpedo Defense Mission Module Testing". navy.mil. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^ "Text - H.R.7776 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
^ ^a ^b Larter, David B. (10 July 2017). "Frigate competition wide open: Navy specs reveal major design shift". Defense News. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
^ O'Rourke, Ronald (8 December 2017). "Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ Eckstein, Megan (10 July 2017). "Navy Releases Details of New FFG(X) Guided-Missile Frigate Program in Request to Industry". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)". USNI News. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-09-05.

[report_Congr_summ-1] "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)" summary. USNI, 1 February 2022.

[2] Shelbourne, Mallory. "Constellation Frigate Delivery Delayed 3 Years, Says Navy". USNI News. Retrieved 2024-04-05.

[USNI_Five_Contenders-3] LaGrone, Sam; Eckstein, Megan (16 February 2018). "Navy Picks Five Contenders for Next Generation Frigate FFG(X) Program". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[defensenews_2021.3.4-4] Cite error: The named reference defensenews 2021.3.4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] [1] GE, The LM2500+G4 Engine

[6] ttps://news.timken.com/2020-10-21-Timkens-Philadelphia-Gear-to-Supply-Critical-Components-for-U-S-Navy-Frigate-Program

[SNA_2018-7] Cite error: The named reference SNA 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[8] O'Rourke, Ronald. "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 15. R44972. Retrieved 2023-06-17.

[FFG(X)_Update-9] Campbell, Regan (15 January 2019). "FFG(X) Update: National Symposium – Surface Navy Association" (PDF). navsea.navy.mil. p. 3. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[10] Burgess, Richard R. (31 August 2022). "First Steel Cut for Navy's Constellation-Class Frigate". Seapower. Retrieved 4 September 2023.

[11] "FY22 DOT&E Annual Report" (PDF). Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. p. 186. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

[12] "Navy Completes Lightweight Torpedo Defense Mission Module Testing". navy.mil. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[2023_NDAA-13] "Text - H.R.7776 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".

[2017-07-10_DN-14] Larter, David B. (10 July 2017). "Frigate competition wide open: Navy specs reveal major design shift". Defense News. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 19 January 2018.

[CRS_FFG(X)_Report-15] O'Rourke, Ronald (8 December 2017). "Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[USNI_FFG(X)_RFI-16] Eckstein, Megan (10 July 2017). "Navy Releases Details of New FFG(X) Guided-Missile Frigate Program in Request to Industry". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[17] "Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)". USNI News. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-09-05.

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Class overview
An artist's rendering of the final Constellation-class design
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	2024–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 by Philadelphia Gears^[6] 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)^[7] AN/SPS-73(V)18 - Next Generation Surface Search Radar Thales Group CAPTAS-4 Low Frequency Variable-Depth Sonar^[8] TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array^[9] AN/SQQ-89(V)16 undersea warfare/anti-submarine warfare combat system^[10] Cooperative Engagement Capability
Electronic warfare & decoys	AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare suite^[11] 4 × Mark 53 Nulka decoy launching system AN/SLQ-61 Lightweight Tow Torpedo Defense Mission Module^[9]^[12]
Armament	32 Mark 41 VLS cells with: BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile^[13] 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^[14] 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

Constellation-class frigate

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