US Navy selects Ingalls Shipbuilding to build its future small surface combatant

The US Navy has selected the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries to design and build its future small surface combatant.

The plan was announced by the US Navy on 19 December 2025 and in a video presentation on the X social media channel by US Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan and US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Darryl Caudle. It comes in the wake of the US Navy terminating its troubled Constellation-class frigate programme on 25 November 2025 with the first two ships still under construction by Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) in Wisconsin, with Phelan saying at the time that a “key factor in this decision is the need to grow the fleet faster to meet tomorrow’s threats”.

“To deliver at speed and scale I’ve 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 US interests at home and abroad,” said Phelan on 19 December. “We will deliver on a wartime footing and we will unleash the American industrial base to do it.”

Adm Caudle stated, “Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable: our small surface combatant inventory is a third of what we need. We need more capable blue-water small combatants to close the gap and keep our DDGs [guided missile destroyers] focused on the high-end fight.”

Called the FF(X), the new small surface combatant is to be designed as a highly adaptable vessel. While its primary mission will be surface warfare, its ability to carry modular payloads and command unmanned systems will allow it to execute a broad spectrum of operations, making it ready for the challenges of the modern maritime environment.

“Small surface combatants have always been essential to the fleet, handling a wide range of missions where a large warship isn’t required,” the US Navy stated. “The FF(X) will continue this vital role and will take on more routine operations, enhancing the fleet’s operational flexibility, adaptability and mission readiness.”

“The frigate will follow the same proven approach we’ve used with the Arleigh Burke destroyers: building it smart from the start, then upgrading it in steps over time as the threat and technology evolve,” Adm Caudle explained.

“We’ve also been clear-eyed about what happens in conflict. Other countries will always prioritise their own fleets, not US ships that depend on foreign industry. That’s why this is an American design, backed by American workers, American suppliers and an established logistics and maintenance network.”

“The president and Sec War [Secretary of War] have signed off on this as part of the Golden Fleet [strategy],” said Phelan. “Our goal is clear: launch the first hull in the water in 2028. To expand capacity and production across our maritime industrial base we will acquire these ships using a lead yard and competitive follow-on strategy for multi-yard construction.

“Shipyards will be measured against one outcome: delivering combat power to the fleet as fast as possible.”

Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO, was quoted in a company press release as stating, “We look forward to supporting the navy on this critical programme. Speed matters, and the NSC ship design is stable and produceable and will lead to predictable schedules. I have great confidence in the Ingalls team to execute this programme, and in our ongoing efforts with our partners to successfully expand the US shipbuilding industrial base to meet the navy’s needs.”

Ingalls is currently simultaneously building three classes of ship: the latest DDG 51 Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer, the America class of amphibious assault ships (LHAs) and the second variant of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship (LPD Flight II), while also modernising the US Navy’s Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers with technology upgrades, including the incorporation of the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic weapon system.

Ingalls supported the US Coast Guard for nearly two decades by building and delivering 10 Legend-class National Security Cutters, the last of which was delivered in October 2023.