Why Has The Us Navy Gave Up On Frigates?

The US Navy’s Constellation-class frigate program, designed to replace the aging Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, is facing significant complications due to design issues. During the Cold War, the US Navy expected that it would have to escort cargo ships across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to sustain America. Construction began in August on the first of the Constellation-class frigates, marking the first new frigate since the last Oliver Hazard Perry-class ship was built.

The lead ship in a new class of guided-missile frigates for the U.S. Navy may be up to three years late, as USNI News has learned. The Navy wants to bring the frigate back to provide a class of versatile ships that can handle various tasks. The first Constellation-class frigate is under construction, and in a change from past acquisition programs, the Navy is already building the frigates.

The main reasons for a three-year slip in the project are lack of workforce and the need to let other shipyard work, including for littoral combat ships, take priority. The US Navy’s guided-missile-frigate project faces delays due to a flawed design, and construction for the 22 billion-dollar frigate is facing delays due to a lack of workforce and the need to prioritize other shipyard work, including for littoral combat ships.