Rolls-Royce to design and manufacture propellers for the US Navy
Rolls-Royce is designing and manufacturing propellers for the US Navy’s Constellation-class (FFG-62) frigates. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)
Rolls-Royce has reached an agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to produce fixed-pitch propellers for the US Navy’s Constellation-class frigates.
Rolls-Royce has agreed with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to design and produce up to 40 fixed-pitch propellers for installation on the USN’s Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided-missile frigates.
Fincantieri was awarded the contract from the US DoD in April 2020 to design and build the first FFG-62 frigate. The contract is for a total of 20 ships and the first is planned to be delivered in 2026.
The propellers will be manufactured in Rolls-Royce’s new foundry in Pascagoula, Mississippi, which was funded through investments from the DoD.
The Pascagoula Foundry is one of two facilities in the US qualified to produce propellers of this size for the USN.
Rolls-Royce has built a reputation for supplying naval assets to the USN, with 95% of the commissioned USN surface fleet being equipped with its propellers.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Constellation class will replace Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and are intended to conduct a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic manoeuvre warfare and anti-air warfare.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Constellation Class - FFG (1-2) [USN]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
![Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?]()
Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?
NATO has spent more than a decade building one of the world’s most sophisticated maritime uncrewed experimentation ecosystems, but still lacks a way to translate this testing into alliance-wide operational capability. Portugal now believes it has the answer.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition]()
Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition
Schiebel is pursuing opportunities in the UK and France while leveraging its integration with Naval Group’s FDI frigate programme to create new naval business across Europe.
