Navy Awards $282.9M FF(X) Frigate Contract to HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding The U.S. Navy has awarded a $282.9 million contract to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division to conduct lead yard work for the new FF(X) frigate program. The contract, announced on Tuesday, involves designing and preparing materials for the first ship in the class, which is based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC) hull. The Navy emphasized that the work will conclude by April 2028, marking a critical step toward transitioning the project from design to production. This decision follows the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program by former Navy Secretary John Phelan in 2025. The Navy opted instead to pursue a new frigate design derived from the NSC Legend-class hull, which is already under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The choice to use the NSC platform was driven by its proven reliability and the need to expedite development, as the Navy aims to have the lead ship operational by 2028. The FY 2027 budget submission, released last week, outlines the procurement plan for the FF(X) class. The Navy projects purchasing one frigate in fiscal year 2027, another in 2029, and two in 2031. The lead ship is expected to be delivered to the Navy by June 2030, with the first two vessels being built through sole-source contracts. Subsequent ships will be procured via competitive bidding to expand the industrial base and increase production rates. The contract includes provisions for long-lead material procurement and pre-production efforts to ensure a smooth transition to construction.#us_navy #huntington_ingalls_industries #ingalls_shipbuilding #pascagoula_mississippi #ns_c_legend_class
