The project schedule for the new Constellation-class frigates to be built for the US Navy has been announced.

Kevin Smith, Program Manager for the Constellation frigate of the Navy, said construction of the ship is planned to begin in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 (Autumn 2021); he said they expect the first frigate to be delivered in 2026.

The Constellation Class Guided Missile Frigate Program, first announced by the United States in 2017, is called the FFG-62. In 2020, The Fincantieri company based in Italy was selected for the construction of the platform.

Program Manager Smith said the cost of the class-first platform would be $1.28 billion. The average unit cost of the remaining nine frigates is estimated to be $781 million, he said.

While the ship is expected to host 200 personnel, it has been announced that the frigates’ weapons systems will include the Mk110 57mm main weapon and the Tomahawk cruise missile. The platforms will also use the Aegis combat management system and Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6 (V) 3 radar, developed for the Ford-class aircraft carrier and FFG program.

Ge company will deliver the power systems of the FFG-62s, which will have a displacement of 7,500 tons.