U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class: New Frigate To Start Construction This Year

[Zarvan]

The latest (01/2022) rendering of the Constellation-class frigate. NAVSEA / US Navy image.

U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class: New Frigate To Start Construction This Year

U.S. Navy CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515) of the Constellation-class frigate, provided the latest updates on the program, during the Surface Navy Association (SNA) 2022 National Symposium held in Washington between 11-13 January.

Tayfun Ozberk 15 Jan 2022

Tayfun Ozberk story with additional reporting by Xavier Vavasseur

During his presentation at the symposium, Captain Smith emphasized that the Constellation-class is a frigate, not a destroyer, and that it should not be expected to carry the same weapon load as DDGs. However, he highlighted that the new frigates will relieve DDGs by performing escort missions to protect high-value assets.

“This is primarily an ASW platform. That’s why ASW is listed first among the missions [of the ship, followed by] surface warfare, electromagnetic maneuver warfare and air warfare. In a lot of ways, it is like a DDG, it just doesn’t have all the magazine capacity, it doesn’t have all the armament you would expect of a DDG.
This is a frigate.

Now it’s an agile multi-mission platform, just like a DDG, and it’s going to be dual purpose: For things like escort missions for high value units, it’s going to take a lot of the the work off of the DDGs and the cruisers out there today and really focus on, if anybody here is Old Navy, what did the frigates do ? They did a lot of escort missions, you know, high value unit protection, those kinds of things. They can also steam independently, they can steam integrated with a task force, it could be a SAG (surface action group) or they could go out and do things with respect to the high value and escort.”


CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515)

Captain Smith stated that the program, for which the contract was awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine back in April 2020, is currently in the detailed design phase. He emphasized that they are working not only on the ship’s primary components, such as the AEGIS combat system baseline 10, but also on the ship’s subsystems, such as electrical infrastructure, piping, firefighting systems, and so on.

The latest renderings of the Constellation-class frigates (Screenshot from the presentation slides)

Construction to begin later than initially planned
The Secretary of the Navy has already named the first three ships, Constellation (FFG-62), Congress (FFG-63) and Chesapeake (FFG-64). Fincantieri has been awarded two of those ships. In terms of the President’s budget focus areas, the third ship, the future USS Chesapeake, is an exercise option that they will consider this fiscal year (2022). Concerning the project’s timeframe, the current agenda on the slides is as follows:

FY22 Focus Areas:
– Completing Frigate Class Detail Design:
• Critical Design Review (CDR) 2QFY22
– Start Lead Ship (FFG 62) Construction:
• Production Readiness Review (PRR) 3QFY22
– Continue AEGIS Combat System Development and Integration efforts
– Complete Fincantieri Capital Improvement Projects at Marinette and Sturgeon Bay
– Continue Propulsion Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) Development at NSWC Philadelphia

Answering a media question, Captain Smith confirmed that he is targeting April 2022 for the start of construction of the lead ship. One year ago, Naval News and USNI News reported that the start of construction for FFG-62 was initially set to take place in 2021.

At SNA 2021 the expected milestones for first-in-class ship were listed as follows:

• Start of Construction (SOC): Fall of 2021/Q1 FY2022
• Keel laying: Q1 FY2023
• Launch: Q1 FY2025
• Delivery: Q3 FY2026

The second ship of the class was set to begin construction in Q3 FY2022, the third ship in Q3 FY2023, the fourth ship in Q1 FY2024…

Constellation-class Frigate: Latest details

An infographic showing the sensors and weapons of the Constellation-class frigates (Screenshot from the presentation slides)

During the symposium, Capt Smith revealed the most recent renderings of the frigate, as well as some specifics about its sensor and weapon systems. The specifications of the Constellation-class frigates, according to the presentation, are as follows.

Principal Characteristics

• LOA – 496.1 ft (151.2 mt)
• Overall Beam – 64.6 ft (19.69 mt)
• Design Draft – 18 ft (5.48 mt)
• Weight Estimate – Light Ship: 6,016 tonnes, Full Load: 7,291 tonnes
• Installed Power 48,679 hp
• Service Life 25 yrs

Sensors, Weapons and Machinery Systems

• Combat System – AEGIS B/L 10
• Radar – AN/SPY-6(V)3
• Underwater Suite – AN/SQQ-89(V)16
• MK 48 GWS
• 1x MK 110 57mm Gun
• 32-cell MK41 VLS
• 16xNSM Weapon System
• 1x MK 49 RAM Block III Point Defence Missile System
• MK 53 MOD 9 NULKA Decoy Launching System
• AN-SLQ-32(V)6 CM (SEWIP) BLK II EW System
• Variable Depth Sonar, Multi-function Towed Array
• Machinery: Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODLAG) Propulsion Plant (LM2500+G4)
• Aviation: 1xMH-60 Romeo, 1xMQ-8C UAV
• 2xRHIBs

Capt Smith gave information on the acquisition approach of the U.S. Navy in this project. He stressed that they didn’t change the design of the ship, and stayed stuck to the RFP:

“From a FREMM perspective discounting c4I, and discounting the combat system weapons that are all government-furnished equipment. The FREMM came along with hull accommodations that came along with the propulsion, plant layout, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and a physical integrated plant. They had to lengthen the hull a little bit. The architecture for the propulsion is very similar to FREMM, but we also have US systems, and we have different redundancy and different reliability.”


CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515)

Capt Smith also revealed some details about Land Based Engineering and Test Site (LBES) issues, which aids in the risk reduction of propulsion architecture, and operation and control. He stressed that they’re going to be pretty much in the same vicinity as the Flight-III LBES. FFG 62 LBES activities began in FY2021 in order to support planned initial operational capability (IOC) for the class in FY2029. The U.S. Navy is on target to begin procurement of long-lead time plant components and test equipment Q2 FY2022.

U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class: New Frigate to Start Construction This Year - Naval News

 

[FuturePAF]

Got a chance to go to fleet week a few years ago. After touring the LCS ship they had brought, I told the navy guys, that the ship wasn’t very impressive. Glad they are getting a decent ship.

 

[Oldman1]

The latest (01/2022) rendering of the Constellation-class frigate. NAVSEA / US Navy image.

U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class: New Frigate To Start Construction This Year

U.S. Navy CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515) of the Constellation-class frigate, provided the latest updates on the program, during the Surface Navy Association (SNA) 2022 National Symposium held in Washington between 11-13 January.

Tayfun Ozberk 15 Jan 2022

Tayfun Ozberk story with additional reporting by Xavier Vavasseur

During his presentation at the symposium, Captain Smith emphasized that the Constellation-class is a frigate, not a destroyer, and that it should not be expected to carry the same weapon load as DDGs. However, he highlighted that the new frigates will relieve DDGs by performing escort missions to protect high-value assets.




Captain Smith stated that the program, for which the contract was awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine back in April 2020, is currently in the detailed design phase. He emphasized that they are working not only on the ship’s primary components, such as the AEGIS combat system baseline 10, but also on the ship’s subsystems, such as electrical infrastructure, piping, firefighting systems, and so on.

The latest renderings of the Constellation-class frigates (Screenshot from the presentation slides)

Construction to begin later than initially planned
The Secretary of the Navy has already named the first three ships, Constellation (FFG-62), Congress (FFG-63) and Chesapeake (FFG-64). Fincantieri has been awarded two of those ships. In terms of the President’s budget focus areas, the third ship, the future USS Chesapeake, is an exercise option that they will consider this fiscal year (2022). Concerning the project’s timeframe, the current agenda on the slides is as follows:

FY22 Focus Areas:
– Completing Frigate Class Detail Design:
• Critical Design Review (CDR) 2QFY22
– Start Lead Ship (FFG 62) Construction:
• Production Readiness Review (PRR) 3QFY22
– Continue AEGIS Combat System Development and Integration efforts
– Complete Fincantieri Capital Improvement Projects at Marinette and Sturgeon Bay
– Continue Propulsion Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) Development at NSWC Philadelphia

Answering a media question, Captain Smith confirmed that he is targeting April 2022 for the start of construction of the lead ship. One year ago, Naval News and USNI News reported that the start of construction for FFG-62 was initially set to take place in 2021.

At SNA 2021 the expected milestones for first-in-class ship were listed as follows:

• Start of Construction (SOC): Fall of 2021/Q1 FY2022
• Keel laying: Q1 FY2023
• Launch: Q1 FY2025
• Delivery: Q3 FY2026

The second ship of the class was set to begin construction in Q3 FY2022, the third ship in Q3 FY2023, the fourth ship in Q1 FY2024…

Constellation-class Frigate: Latest details

An infographic showing the sensors and weapons of the Constellation-class frigates (Screenshot from the presentation slides)

During the symposium, Capt Smith revealed the most recent renderings of the frigate, as well as some specifics about its sensor and weapon systems. The specifications of the Constellation-class frigates, according to the presentation, are as follows.

Principal Characteristics

• LOA – 496.1 ft (151.2 mt)
• Overall Beam – 64.6 ft (19.69 mt)
• Design Draft – 18 ft (5.48 mt)
• Weight Estimate – Light Ship: 6,016 tonnes, Full Load: 7,291 tonnes
• Installed Power 48,679 hp
• Service Life 25 yrs

Sensors, Weapons and Machinery Systems

• Combat System – AEGIS B/L 10
• Radar – AN/SPY-6(V)3
• Underwater Suite – AN/SQQ-89(V)16
• MK 48 GWS
• 1xMK 110 57mm Gun
• 32-cell MK41 VLS
• 16xNSM Weapon System
• 1x MK 49 RAM Block III Point Defence Missile System
• MK 53 MOD 9 NULKA Decoy Launching System
• AN-SLQ-32(V)6 CM (SEWIP) BLK II EW System
• Variable Depth Sonar, Multi-function Towed Array
• Machinery: Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODLAG) Propulsion Plant (LM2500+G4)
• Aviation: 1xMH-60 Romeo, 1xMQ-8C UAV
• 2xRHIBs

Capt Smith gave information on the acquisition approach of the U.S. Navy in this project. He stressed that they didn’t change the design of the ship, and stayed stuck to the RFP:


Capt Smith also revealed some details about Land Based Engineering and Test Site (LBES) issues, which aids in the risk reduction of propulsion architecture, and operation and control. He stressed that they’re going to be pretty much in the same vicinity as the Flight-III LBES. FFG 62 LBES activities began in FY2021 in order to support planned initial operational capability (IOC) for the class in FY2029. The U.S. Navy is on target to begin procurement of long-lead time plant components and test equipment Q2 FY2022.

U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class: New Frigate to Start Construction This Year - Naval News

Surprised they don't include a bulbous bow with a sonar array in it to reduce drag and have an array in it if its meant for ASW.

Got a chance to go to fleet week a few years ago. After touring the LCS ship they had brought, I told the navy guys, that the ship wasn’t very impressive. Glad they are getting a decent ship.

Well its never meant to be a frigate replacement, more of a corvette hence calling it LCS. Still I would prefer something like the Sa'ar 6 corvette. Smaller ship but more heavily armed compared to the LCS ships.

 

[FuturePAF]

Surprised they don't include a bulbous bow with a sonar array in it to reduce drag and have an array in it if its meant for ASW.


Well its never meant to be a frigate replacement, more of a corvette hence calling it LCS. Still I would prefer something like the Sa'ar 6 corvette. Smaller ship but more heavily armed compared to the LCS ships.

But the LCS is not even a good enough corvette. Gearbox breaks when it tries to go anywhere near the top speed. It’s under armed, and modularity seemed like an excuse to avoid putting on sensors and weapons.

 

[Oldman1]

But the LCS is not even a good enough corvette. Gearbox breaks when it tries to go anywhere near the top speed. It’s under armed, and modularity seemed like an excuse to avoid putting on sensors and weapons.

I agree it's not a good ship. Right now they already fixed the gearbox, obviously it shouldn't have been a problem in the first place and now they equipped it with anti ship missiles. Ironically all these designs and weapons introduced are leading to improve tech meant for small ships. Like the EW SEWIP III lite. Maybe in the future the U.S. Navy could adopt a true corvette thats more heavily armed like the Sa'ar 6 while still have the range and the capability to operation in open ocean and close to the shores missions meant for that type of ship insteading of diverting a destroyer or even a frigate for the missions not really needed anything bigger than a corvette. I said they should adopt the design of the Sa'ar 6.

SEWIP Block Upgrade Program Evaluated for Use on LCS

WASHINGTON -- The Navy is evaluating a scaled-down version ofthe Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) system for potentialincorporation on future Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), Naval

www.navsea.navy.mil

SEWIP Block Upgrade Program Evaluated for Use on LCS

Navy's New Shipboard Electronic Warfare System Is Being Shrunk Down For Smaller Ships

The new system is capable of making pinpoint electronic attacks but it's so big that it requires major alterations to a destroyer's superstructure.

www.thedrive.com

 

[FuturePAF]

I agree it's not a good ship. Right now they already fixed the gearbox, obviously it shouldn't have been a problem in the first place and now they equipped it with anti ship missiles. Ironically all these designs and weapons introduced are leading to improve tech meant for small ships. Like the EW SEWIP III lite. Maybe in the future the U.S. Navy could adopt a true corvette thats more heavily armed like the Sa'ar 6 while still have the range and the capability to operation in open ocean and close to the shores missions meant for that type of ship insteading of diverting a destroyer or even a frigate for the missions not really needed anything bigger than a corvette. I said they should adopt the design of the Sa'ar 6.

SEWIP Block Upgrade Program Evaluated for Use on LCS

WASHINGTON -- The Navy is evaluating a scaled-down version ofthe Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) system for potentialincorporation on future Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), Naval

www.navsea.navy.mil

SEWIP Block Upgrade Program Evaluated for Use on LCS

Navy's New Shipboard Electronic Warfare System Is Being Shrunk Down For Smaller Ships

The new system is capable of making pinpoint electronic attacks but it's so big that it requires major alterations to a destroyer's superstructure.

www.thedrive.com

With all the improvements applies to a corvette sized vessel like the Saar 6 would be good for legacy low to mid intensity conflict areas; basically anywhere outside of areas where other navies operate peer or near peer capabilities.

I hope Pakistan puts similar EW systems on all its ships to neutralize enemy threats electronic as well as kinetically with interceptors. Future warfare will definitely depend on dominating the electronic spectrum; EW, Comms, radars, etc.

 

[Oldman1]

With all the improvements applies to a corvette sized vessel like the Saar 6 would be good for legacy low to mid intensity conflict areas; basically anywhere outside of areas where other navies operate peer or near peer capabilities.

Exactly! And with new SPY radar where it can reduce the size based on the number of RMAs it can be capable of having Aegis system for air defense and EW.

Just looking at the Sa'ar 6 corvette with that many missiles, its feasible. Look at the comparison in terms of size of the ship they are roughly 100 feet longer and 1,000 tons heavier. If the Sa'ar 6 was the size of the LCS with same armaments but different sensors like the new SPY radar and EW systems it would have been a super corvette!

Type	Corvette
Displacement	1,900 long tons (1,900 t) at full load[2]
Length	90 m (295 ft 3 in)
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) [1]
Sensors and processing systems	EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar
Armament	1 × Oto Melara 76 mm main gun 2 × Typhoon Weapon Stations 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles 40 vertical launch cells for C-Dome point defense system 16 Gabriel V anti-ship missile 2 × 324 mm (13 in) torpedo launchers 1 MH-60 Seahawk multi-mission helicopter

Look at the LCS.
Independence.

Type	Littoral combat ship
Displacement	2543 tons light, 3,422 tons full[6]
Length	418 ft (127 m)[6]
Beam	104 ft (32 m)[6]
Draft	14 ft (4.3 m)[6]
Propulsion	2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 2 × MTU Friedrichshafen 20V 8000 Series diesel engines[7] 2 x American Vulkan light weight multiple-section carbon fiber propulsion shaftlines 2 x LJ160E & 2 x LJ150E Wärtsilä waterjets,[8] retractable bow-mounted azimuth thruster 4 × diesel generators
Speed	44 knots (51 mph; 81 km/h)[15]
Range	4,300 nautical miles (7,964 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)[5]
Capacity	210 metric tons (206 long tons, 231 short tons)
Complement	40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew

Freedom

Type	Littoral combat ship
Displacement	3,500 metric tons (3,900 short tons) (full load)[7]
Length	378 ft (115 m)
Beam	57.4 ft (17.5 m)
Draft	12.8 ft (3.9 m)
Installed power	Electrical: 4 Isotta Fraschini V1708 diesel engines, Hitzinger generator units, 800 kW each
Propulsion	2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW (48,000 hp) gas turbines, 2 x Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B 6.8 MW (9,100 hp) diesel engines, 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets[8][9]
Speed	47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph) (sea state 3)[21]
Range	3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[6]
Endurance	21 days (336 hours)
Boats & landing craft carried	11 m (36 ft) RHIB, 12 m (39 ft) high-speed boats
Complement	50 core crew, 65 with mission crew (Blue and Gold crews).[11]