USN orders second Constellation-class frigate
Marinette Marine will build the second Constellation-class guided-missile frigate for the USN
Marinette Marine will build the future USS Congress.
Fincantieri subsidiary Marinette Marine has been awarded a $553.89 million contract modification by US Naval Sea Systems Command to design and build the second Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided-missile frigate.
Construction of the future USS Congress is scheduled for completion in January 2027, according to a 20 May announcement from the DoD.
Marinette Marine is already working on the detailed design phase of the first-in-class USS Constellation. Construction of that vessel is expected to start in late 2021 with delivery earmarked for 2026.
The USN initially ordered ten Constellation-class frigates in 2020. The construction work plus post-delivery availability support and crew training is worth $5.5 billion to Fincantieri.
The USN plans a follow-on order for 10 additional Constellation-class vessels.
Although the design of the new frigates is based on the Italian FREMM, it includes a significant amount of US content. Shephard Defence Insight notes that the future USS Constellation will contain more than 96% US content by value, for example.
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