The United States Navy has announced the cancellation of the final four ships in its ambitious Constellation-class guided missile frigate program, a decision described by the service’s leadership as part of a larger “strategic shift” that redefines how the Navy intends to modernize and expand its future fleet. The declaration, issued on Tuesday by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, represents a significant turning point for a cornerstone initiative once viewed as essential to meeting the Navy’s long-term fleet-size objectives.
For several years, the Constellation-class program had stood at the center of both high hopes and mounting controversy. Initially conceived as a next-generation surface combatant capable of serving as a vital intermediary between the Navy’s larger destroyers and smaller littoral combat ships, the program quickly encountered turbulence. Concerns intensified as lawmakers, naval analysts, and oversight bodies raised alarms about persistent design complications, shifting technical requirements, and a construction schedule that repeatedly fell behind target. Despite these challenges, Navy officials had previously reaffirmed their determination to procure a total of twenty Constellation-class frigates, positioning them as an indispensable element in achieving the service’s broader aspiration of a 355-ship fleet capable of responding to multiple global threats.
In a carefully worded post published on X, Secretary Phelan revealed that the Navy had chosen to terminate contracts for the last four ships authorized under the program. He emphasized, however, that work would continue on the first two vessels currently under active construction. While acknowledging that those ships remain subject to ongoing internal review, he noted that the Navy’s leadership must “work through this strategic shift” to ensure resources are aligned with more urgent operational priorities and a faster, more adaptive shipbuilding framework. Phelan’s remarks suggested a recalibration rather than a retreat, indicating the Navy’s intent to pursue alternative vessel classes that might better support the service’s evolving mission requirements.
The Constellation frigates were being assembled by Fincantieri Marinette Marine, a Wisconsin-based shipbuilder awarded the principal contract in 2020 after a competitive evaluation process. Valued at roughly $22 billion for twenty ships, the program represented both a major industrial commitment and a flagship example of modern naval procurement. Nevertheless, it soon became the focus of growing scrutiny from Capitol Hill and even from within the executive branch, including criticism expressed by President Donald Trump during his tenure. A detailed report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified several missteps behind the initiative’s escalating cost overruns and timeline delays. Chief among these was the Navy’s decision to commence physical construction before the vessel’s design blueprints were entirely finalized—a choice the GAO characterized as a foundational error that propagated inefficiencies throughout the process. The watchdog also noted that the Navy attempted to accelerate progress by integrating existing, proven technologies from other ship classes, a strategy that ultimately provided less advantage than anticipated.
Despite the decision to halt future orders, Secretary Phelan underscored the importance of safeguarding the industrial base and preserving the skilled craftsmen and technical specialists who make up what he termed a “critical workforce.” Maintaining operational shipyards not only supports present manufacturing but also ensures readiness for forthcoming contracts and emerging naval programs. “The Navy needs ships,” Phelan declared, reaffirming the service’s ongoing mission to sustain maritime superiority. “We look forward to building them in every shipyard we can,” he added, implying that the termination of the Constellation sequence does not signal a reduction in ambition, but rather a redirection toward more agile shipbuilding initiatives.
Responding to the announcement, Fincantieri Marinette Marine expressed confidence that the Navy would adhere to existing agreements and would redirect production efforts toward other vital sectors. In a statement to Business Insider, the company anticipated future collaboration in the construction of amphibious vessels, icebreakers, and specialized mission ships, while preparing to contribute to the development of next-generation small surface combatants—both crewed and unmanned—that the Navy intends to deploy at an accelerated rate. “The key is to maximize the commitment and capabilities our system of shipyards represents,” the company asserted, suggesting that this structural capacity could seamlessly pivot toward supporting new maritime priorities.
The cancellation also occurs at a moment of acute strategic concern. The Navy finds itself in a transitional phase in which it is retiring older ships at a faster rate than it commissions new ones, causing a temporary contraction in total fleet numbers. This shrinkage comes as the Department of Defense continues to identify China as its principal pacing challenge, a competitor whose naval output expands rapidly, with Chinese shipyards producing new warships at a pace unmatched anywhere else in the world. The loss of the Constellation-class program complicates the Navy’s trajectory toward its long-stated goal of amassing a 355-ship fleet, leaving policymakers and defense planners uncertain about what configuration of vessels will fill the resulting capability gap.
In his online statement, Secretary Phelan emphasized that the decisive factor driving this program’s cancellation was “the need to grow the fleet faster to meet tomorrow’s threats.” He noted that the Navy’s new strategic framework emphasizes more flexible acquisition timelines designed to bring next-generation ship types into service more swiftly and efficiently than the stalled frigate effort had allowed. Yet, beyond this assertion, the Navy has not offered immediate clarification on how these revised plans will translate into near-term fleet composition or funding priorities. When contacted for further comment, the Navy declined to provide additional details, leaving observers to await the next stage in what increasingly appears to be a far-reaching reconfiguration of American naval strategy.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-cancels-future-constellation-class-frigates-raising-fleet-size-concerns-2025-11
