"I will not spend a dime on anything that cannot enhance our combat readiness or our ability to win. The US Navy and contractors have reached a comprehensive agreement to terminate the project for building the final four Constellation-class frigates, which had not yet commenced construction," US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan stated on 25/11.

Secretary Phelan added that the two initial ships of the Constellation class are currently under construction, but they will be "under review." He has not yet announced the US Navy's next steps following the project's suspension.

Simulation of the USS Constellation frigate. Graphics: Fincantieri Marinette Marine

"Shipbuilding is a top concern. The US Navy needs ships, and we aim to build them in every capable shipyard. A crucial factor in this decision is the need to develop the fleet faster to counter future threats," Secretary Phelan explained.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of the Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri and based in Wisconsin, was awarded a contract in 2020 to build 20 Constellation-class frigates, totaling 22 billion USD.

The Constellation class was developed based on the European multi-purpose frigate (FREMM), a collaborative effort between France and Italy. This design aimed to replace the Freedom and Independence-class littoral combat ships, which had encountered numerous operational problems. The US chose FREMM as the design basis due to insufficient time to complete an entirely new warship design.

The program previously faced criticism from then-President Donald Trump, military leaders, and US lawmakers.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated that project delays and budget increases stemmed from the navy's decision to build the first warship before completing the design, among other errors. Last year, the US Navy attempted to accelerate shipbuilding by adopting readily available technology, already proven on other warships.

Under the original plan, the US Navy was to receive the first vessel, the USS Constellation, in 2026. However, the delivery deadline has been pushed back to 2029. The US Navy also aimed to construct each ship at a cost of one billion USD, with costs gradually decreasing in the future, but recent estimates show this figure has risen to 1.4 billion USD.

Model of the USS Constellation frigate. Photo: Fincantieri Marinette Marine

The project began to meet the requirement for a frigate capable of keeping pace with nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. It needed a sensor system connected to the fleet's network to expand situational awareness and the tactical picture of the carrier strike group.

The Constellation class also had to meet requirements for destroying enemy surface warships from a distance, anti-submarine warfare, escort duties, and using active and passive electronic warfare systems. It was designed to withstand continuous attacks by small boats.

Each Constellation-class ship has a displacement of nearly 7,300 tons, measures over 150 m in length, boasts a maximum speed of 48 km/h, and a range of 11,000 km. The ships are equipped with 32 Mk.41 vertical launch system cells for cruise and air defense missiles, along with a 16-missile anti-ship launcher, a 57 mm naval gun, and 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. The warships can also carry helicopters for various missions.

Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, Business Insider, AP)