Kickstarting a bold shift in naval strategy, the U.S. Navy has greenlit a new frigate class that promises to bolster small surface combatant numbers.
Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the initiative today, revealing that the service will build this new frigate using HII’s Legend-class national security cutter design, originally crafted for the U.S. Coast Guard, Breaking Defense reported.
This decision follows last week's whispers of replacing the scrapped Constellation-class frigate program. Phelan’s confirmation aims for a tight timeline, targeting the first ship to hit the water by 2028.
Strategic Pivot to a Golden Fleet
The Navy frames this frigate as a cornerstone of the administration’s “Golden Fleet” vision. Details remain scarce, but the concept pushes for a fleet heavy on smaller combatants and unmanned vessels alongside beefier battleships.
Phelan’s social media video laid out the plan with clarity. “I have directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on HII’s Legend-class national security cutter design, a proven American-built ship that has been protecting our interests at home and abroad,” he declared.
That statement carries weight when you consider the current fleet’s gaps. Relying on a tested design signals a pragmatic move to shore up defenses without reinventing the wheel in a world of budget bloat and endless delays.
Urgent Need for Combatant Numbers
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle doubled down on the urgency in the same video. “Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable,” he said, pointing to a small surface combatant inventory that’s a mere third of what’s needed.
His words cut through the fog of bureaucratic excuses. If destroyers are stuck on high-end threats, who’s guarding the broader waters without more capable frigates?
The Navy’s acting acquisition executive, Jason Potter, echoed Phelan’s 2028 goal earlier. This timeline isn’t just ambitious; it’s a loud call to prioritize action over endless studies.
HII Takes the Helm with Proven Design
HII, tapped as the lead yard, will build these ships at their Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Mississippi. CEO Chris Kastner expressed readiness, stating, “Speed matters, and the NSC ship design is stable and produceable and will lead to predictable schedules.”
That confidence isn’t misplaced, given the Legend-class cutter’s track record. Sticking to a known blueprint could sidestep the technical hiccups that plague so many defense projects.
Caudle reinforced this logic, highlighting the cost and risk benefits. “Leveraging a complete design and production baseline approach will allow the Navy and shipbuilders to reduce costs, schedule, and technical risk,” he noted.
Building a Stronger Naval Future
The Navy plans a competition to bring other shipyards into the fold beyond HII. This move could spread economic benefits while ramping up production capacity for a fleet in dire need.
Look at the broader picture, and this frigate program feels like a rare win for practical policy over progressive pipe dreams of untested tech. A focus on proven designs and real numbers tackles national security head-on, without the distraction of ideological experiments.
HII’s commitment, paired with Navy leadership’s clarity, sets a tone of accountability. If they hit that 2028 mark, it’ll prove that American shipbuilding can still deliver when the stakes are highest.
