Navy’s new frigates to be based on existing Coast Guard warships

Navy Secretary John Phelan said Friday the Legend-class National Security Cutter will serve as the model for its small surface combatant ship program.

The decision came about a month after the Navy cancelled its Constellation-class frigates. Legend-class cutters have been in the Coast Guard fleet since 2008 and are used for missions ranging from search and rescue to law enforcement and drug interdiction operations.

In a video posted on X, Mr. Phelan called the National Security Cutter design “a proven, American-built ship that has been protecting U.S. interests at home and abroad.”

The frigates will be part of the Navy’s “Golden Fleet” concept, which aims to expand the fleet with larger surface combatants capable of launching hypersonic missiles, combined with technologically advanced unmanned systems, to counter China’s growing naval power.

“The frigate will follow the same proven approach we’ve used with the Arleigh Burke destroyers: Building it smart from the start, then upgrading it in steps over time as the threat and technology evolve,” Mr. Phelan said. 

The Navy selected Huntington Ingalls Industries as the lead yard for its new frigates, but said other companies would be able to compete on future ships in the program. The goal is to have the first hull in the water by 2028, officials said.

HII President Chris Kastner said the company looks forward to supporting the Navy on the critical frigate program.

“Speed matters, and the [National Security Cutter] ship design is stable and producible and will lead to predictable schedules,” Mr. Kastner said Friday in a statement. “I have great confidence in the Ingalls team to execute this program, and in our ongoing efforts with our partners to successfully expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base to meet the Navy’s needs.”

Adm. Daryl Caudle, the chief of naval operations, compared the Navy’s frigate program to its new Medium Landing Ships that are based on a proven design from the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group. The off-the-shelf selection enables the rapid deployment of island-hopping warships for the Marine Corps, while lowering costs and reducing production risks, officials said.

“We know this frigate design works. We know it operates with the fleet, and most importantly, we know how to build it,” Adm. Caudle said on X. 

The Constellation-class program was based on Italy’s FREMM frigate system, which underwent several design changes ordered by the Navy. The original plan called for 20 frigates, but it became impractical after the alterations resulted in slower production timelines and increasing costs.