Navy Unveils New FF(X) Frigate
Based on Coast Guard Cutter, first ships will be built at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula
The U.S. Navy has announced a major shift in its surface combatant plans with a new frigate class that will draw its design from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC). Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan revealed the decision in a video announcement Friday, saying the move will help get ships to sea faster while strengthening American industry.
To deliver new capability on an accelerated timeline, the Navy will base the FF(X) frigate on the proven cutter design built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division. The first hull is expected to be launched in 2028, and all ships will be built in American yards with U.S. supply chains, Phelan said.
“To deliver at speed and scale, I’ve directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on a proven American-built design that has been protecting U.S. interests at home and abroad,” Phelan said in the announcement. “Our goal is clear: launch the first hull in the water in 2028.”
The new FF(X) is intended to bring flexibility and modern capabilities to the fleet. According to Navy releases and industry reporting, the ships will support surface warfare missions, carry modular payloads, and act as command platforms for unmanned systems. Navy officials also say these vessels will help reduce strain on larger warships by taking on routine operations.
HII’s leadership welcomed the program, emphasizing stability and predictable schedules in construction.
“Speed matters, and the NSC ship design is stable and producible and will lead to predictable schedules,” said Chris Kastner, President and CEO of HII. “I have great confidence in the Ingalls team to execute this program and expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base to meet the Navy’s needs.”
The FF(X) decision comes amid growing concern about the Navy’s ability to stay on schedule with new surface combatants.
For years, the Constellation-class frigate program—originally meant to deliver a fleet of modern escort ships based on the Italian FREMM design—faced persistent delays and rising costs. Extensive design changes pushed the first ship’s delivery from its original target in 2026 to at least 2029, and by late 2025 Secretary Phelan announced the cancellation of four of the planned ships. Only two—USS Constellation and USS Congress—remain under review, with others scrapped before construction began.
Government watchdog reports—including one from the Government Accountability Office—have highlighted how design instability and construction before full technical plans were complete contributed to these setbacks. Those reports also noted rising costs and schedule slips as major issues.
Another long-standing challenge has been the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Initially conceived to provide fast, adaptable ships that could swap mission packages at sea, the LCS force struggled to deliver on that promise. Mission modules were delayed or canceled, and the ships often deployed in fixed configurations. Structural issues on some hulls led to restrictions in operations, prompting the Navy to retire portions of the class early rather than extend service life.
These difficulties—from the early retirement of LCS variants to the cancellation and delays of Constellation-class frigates—have made naval planners and lawmakers alike question the service’s ability to build the ships it needs on time and on budget. The Navy says FF(X) is designed to avoid past pitfalls by leveraging a mature hull and limiting requirements growth, but some remain skeptical.
For Alabamians, an obvious question is: will any of these new frigates be built in Mobile? With the winding down of the LCS program, and the first of the FF(X) class coming out of Ingall’s yards in Pascagoula, is Mobile not a prime candidate for FF(X) construction? This would seem to be in line with Secretary Phelen’s promise of American yards with American supply chains with a lead yard (Ingall’s) and follow-on yards being added later. But, only time will tell.
The announcement of the FF(X) may be seen on YouTube and below:
