Fincantieri to Build Second Constellation-Class Frigate for US Navy

The US Department of Defence has announced that the Navy is exercising a approximately $555 million option to have Fincantieri subsidiary, Marinette Marine (FMM) build the second Constellation-class guided-missile frigate. FMM is currently working on the detailed design phase of building the first-in-class USS Constellation. 

Construction is planned to start at the end of this year with the frigate expected to be delivered in 2026. The order comes only one year after the award for the first vessel of its class, shipbuilding group Fincantieri said.

The “Constellation” programme was awarded to FMM in 2020, through a contract for the first-in-class frigate and the options for further 9 ships, as well as post-delivery availability support and crew training, with a cumulative value for Fincantieri amounting to $5.5 billion. 

The US Navy plans to build 10 additional vessels as part of the programme, for a total of 20.  Fincantieri succeeded in such a high-profile tender, distinguishing itself among several major US shipyards thanks to a project considered as the most advanced and cutting-edge. 

The Group’s proposal is based on the FREMM frigate platform, globally recognised as the most technologically advanced, and the backbone of a 10-unit programme for the Italian Navy which Fincantieri is currently completing.

FMM is the spearhead of Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), which controls two other shipyards also located in the Great Lakes (Wisconsin) –Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri Ace Marine. 

The company serves commercial and government customers in the US, including the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. In addition to the Littoral Combat Ships programme, FMM is building four Multi-Mission Surface Combatants (MMSC) to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the US Foreign Military Sales programme. –fc/shp/mgm (Image: Fincantieri)