Frigate construction will begin by end of August

The Navy will begin construction of the first Constellation-class frigate this month, according to a service official.

“The FFG-62 Constellation-class: We're going to start bending metal later this month. That's a success story,” said Rear Adm. Fred Pyle, director of the office of the chief of naval operations’ surface warfare division.

The Navy aimed to begin construction in April, but that was pushed back to finish the program’s critical design review.

“This frigate is going to bring DDG-like capability. We need to build small surface combatants in numbers and [to] get this fighting frigate to sea,” Pyle said during the Surface Navy Association’s 2022 Waterfront Symposium.

The service wants to procure a total of 20 frigates, with 10 already on contract to Fincantieri Marinette Marine. The lead ship Constellation will be followed by Congress (FFG-63) and Chesapeake (FFG-64).

Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener told reporters yesterday that the Navy has “invested heavily” in land-based testing for the frigate program.

The Navy plans to reach initial operational capability for the ship class in fiscal year 2029.