**US Navy Drops Constellation-Class Frigate Program**
*The Epoch Times* | November 30, 2025 | Ryan Morgan
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The U.S. Navy has announced the cancellation of its Constellation-class frigate program, although construction will continue on the first two ships. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan disclosed the decision in a video message on November 25.
“My job as secretary of the Navy is to be a responsible steward of the trust and resources the American people place in us, delivering modern, lethal, and reliable platforms that strengthen readiness and give our war fighters every advantage to deter, fight, and win,” Phelan said.
This move comes amid concerns that the U.S. Navy is falling behind China in shipbuilding. According to a congressional report from March, the U.S. fleet size has hovered between 270 and 300 battle force ships since the early 2000s, despite a target of 355 ships. In contrast, China’s navy is expected to reach 395 ships by the end of 2025.
Phelan stated that canceling the Constellation-class frigates is his first major public action to reshape the Department of the Navy.
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### About the Constellation-Class Frigates
Frigates generally are the smallest surface combatants, smaller than medium-sized destroyers and larger cruisers. The Constellation-class was designed as guided-missile frigates equipped with 32 vertical launch systems capable of firing various missiles, including Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and air-defense missiles. Additionally, they would have 16 more missile launch canisters.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine won the contract to design and build these frigates in 2020. Initially, the Navy planned to build 20 ships in this class. Before the cancellation, six frigates were under contract, with two currently under construction.
The Navy has reached an agreement with its industry partners to cancel four frigates that had not yet begun construction. Work on the first two ships will continue for now.
“We greatly value the shipbuilders of Wisconsin and Michigan,” said Secretary Phelan. “While work continues on the first two ships, those ships remain under review as we work through this strategic shift.”
Fincantieri issued a statement expressing optimism: “Entering into the future and in alignment with the Group’s industrial capabilities and potential, Fincantieri will support the U.S. Navy, as it redefines strategic choices in the Small Surface Combatants segment, manned or unmanned.”
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### Challenges and Concerns with the Program
Although Phelan did not specify reasons for the cancellation, the program had been plagued by rising costs, construction delays, and questions regarding the ship’s design.
A March report by the Congressional Research Service noted the first frigate in the class, to be named USS Constellation, was already facing an estimated three-year delay.
The Constellation-class design was originally based on the Frigate European Multi-Mission (FREMM) design, developed by Fincantieri for European navies. Initially, the new frigates shared about 85% commonality with the FREMM design, but modifications reduced this to less than 15%.
Disagreements also arose over the number of vertical launch missile silos. The frigates were supposed to be about three-quarters the size of the current Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyers but would carry only about a third of the missile silos. Expanding the silos from 32 to 48 could increase the cost per ship by 1.3% to 2.2%.
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### Historical Context of U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Programs
The Constellation cancellation is not the first setback in recent U.S. naval shipbuilding.
In the 1990s, the Navy pursued the Zumwalt-class destroyer program, initially planning for 32 ships. However, due to ballooning costs, the program was truncated to just three ships by 2008.
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, begun in the 2000s with Freedom-class and Independence-class designs, has also faced challenges. A 2019 report by the Congressional Research Service highlighted cost overruns, design and construction issues, and concerns about survivability in combat. Despite constructions starting in 2005, several LCS vessels have entered early retirement.
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### Conclusion
The cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program marks a significant shift in the Navy’s shipbuilding strategy amid growing competition with China and ongoing challenges in procurement and design.
Secretary Phelan emphasized the need for responsible stewardship of resources while ensuring the Navy remains modern, lethal, and ready to face future threats.
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**Topics:** Government, History, Military/Veterans, Society
**Keywords:** U.S. Navy, Constellation-class frigate, shipbuilding, defense, military procurement, naval ships, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, ship construction, naval strategy
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