Navy Calls Time on Constellation Frigate Program

The United States Navy has officially terminated its Constellation-class frigate program, canceling four of the six ships originally planned. The decision was announced November 25–26, 2025.

Only the first two vessels — USS Constellation (FFG‑62) and USS Congress (FFG‑63) — which are already under construction in Wisconsin, will continue; though even their fate remains under review as part of a broader strategic recalibration.

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What Went Wrong: Design Instability, Weight Growth and Delays

Originally, the Constellation class was to be built on the proven European FREMM frigate design from shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine. After contracting the programme in 2020, the Navy expected to accelerate delivery by leveraging an existing design.

But those hopes unraveled quickly:

• A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that construction began before the ship’s design was finalized — a clear deviation from standard ship-design best practices.
• As design revisions piled up to satisfy U.S. Navy requirements (weapons systems, sensors, survivability, etc.), the ship grew heavier and diverged significantly from the FREMM baseline.
• What was once touted as an 88% complete “basic and functional design” had slipped to only 70% completion by 2025 — and the schedule for the lead ship slipped by three years.

By 2025, the program had lost its foundational rationale: a fast, relatively low-risk build. Instead, it had become costly, delayed, and unpredictable — prompting Navy leadership to pull the plug.

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Strategic Shift: Speed, Flexibility — And New Priorities

In announcing the cancellation, Navy Secretary John C. Phelan emphasized a “strategic shift” toward building ships that can be designed and delivered more rapidly.

The funds freed from the cancelled Constellation ships will be redirected toward new ship classes — potentially including smaller surface combatants, modular vessels, or unmanned platforms — that better meet the Navy’s urgency to expand the fleet.

For Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the agreement preserves immediate work on the two under-construction frigates and signals potential future contracts for amphibious, ice-breaking, and special-mission ships.

Senate officials welcomed the move as a sign of renewed accountability and pragmatic program management.

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What the Cancellation Means for U.S. Naval Strategy

• Fleet growth slows, at least temporarily. The Constellation program was part of a broader push to reach a 355-ship fleet; cutting four ships represents a significant setback.
• A move toward flexibility. The Navy’s pivot suggests future procurement may emphasize speed, modularity, and repeatability — rather than bespoke, heavyweight warships.
• Risk mitigation in shipbuilding. The fallout from starting construction before completing the design offers a cautionary tale — and may shape stricter acquisition practices going forward.