U.S. Navy Aims to Launch First FF(X) Frigate by 2028 The U.S. Navy has outlined its plans for the FF(X) program in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget documentation, setting a target to have the first frigate in the water by the first quarter of fiscal year 2029, which corresponds to late 2028. The program’s timeline envisions the delivery of the first vessel by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2030, approximately four years after the program’s initiation. This would mark one of the shortest delivery timelines in recent U.S. Navy history, reflecting the service’s emphasis on rapid deployment. To achieve this accelerated schedule, the Navy has opted to leverage components from the canceled 11th ship of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class cutters. The FF(X) design is based on these vessels, allowing for a streamlined initial design and construction process. This approach has significantly reduced the time required for development, as the similarities between the Legend-class and the FF(X) enable the reuse of existing systems and infrastructure. Funding for the FF(X) program in fiscal year 2027 is allocated at approximately $1.429 billion to procure the lead ship, with an additional $212 million designated for research and development. The R&D budget is focused on validating ship systems, including combat systems, planning future tests, integrating modular payloads, and coordinating with unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Design studies for the second flight of the frigates are also underway, ensuring the program remains adaptable to evolving operational requirements. The FF(X) Flight 1 configuration is expected to form the basis for at least the first two vessels, with minimal modifications to the National Security Cutter baseline.#us_navy #ffx_program #legend_class_cutters #rolling_airframe_missile #sp_s_77_radar
