The U.S. Navy is weighing domestic and foreign frigate designs to fill the multi-billion dollar gap left by the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program, according to a USNI News report published September 27, 2026. The decision will shape the future of the Navy’s small surface combatant fleet, though no specific replacement design or timeline has been announced.
The Constellation-class program, originally slated to deliver its first ship in 2026, was cancelled earlier this year after cost overruns and schedule delays. The Navy has not disclosed the total value of the cancelled contract, but the program was expected to cost billions of dollars for a planned fleet of 20 frigates.
According to the USNI report, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is progressing with its FFX patrol frigate design, which is one of the domestic options under consideration. The Navy is also evaluating foreign designs, including the Italian FREMM EVO frigate from Fincantieri, which has been mentioned as a potential alternative in other contexts.
“The Navy is reviewing both U.S. and international options to ensure the fleet gets the capability it needs at a cost the nation can afford,” a Navy official told USNI News on condition of anonymity. The official did not provide a timeline for a decision.
The cancellation leaves a gap in the Navy’s small surface combatant plans, which had relied on the Constellation-class to replace the aging Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and supplement the larger Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
In a related development, the Dutch-Belgian ASWF frigate program has faced delays, with the first Dutch frigate now expected in 2033 instead of 2030, according to a Naval News report from September 26, 2026. That program, however, is separate from the U.S. Navy’s efforts.
The Navy’s decision on a replacement is expected to be made in the coming months, according to the USNI report, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the process.
Sources: DVIDS News · Naval News