Frag Out! Magazine

According to official statements, the first new frigate is expected to be launched as early as 2028. This accelerated timeline is made possible by HII's possession of partially completed hull sections for the eleventh Legend-class cutter, whose construction was canceled by the Department of Homeland Security in June 2025. At present, there is no confirmed contract for full-scale production of the new frigate class. Available information suggests that the initial batch will be armed with a 57 mm Mk 110 naval gun, two 30 mm gun mounts, a single Mk 144 launcher for RIM-116 RAM missiles, and launchers for Kongsberg NSM (RGM-184A) anti-ship missiles. Additional ca- pabilities—such as anti-submarine warfare systems or integration of the Mk 41 VLS—are expected to be introduced in later production batches. Despite their classification, Legend-class cutters are fully ocean-go- ing patrol vessels, with a displacement of approximately 4,500 tons and dimensions of 127 × 16 × 7 meters. Their size allows for enduran- The contract stipulated delivery of the prototype by April 2026 and included options for nine additional frigates, which had been progres- sively exercised. Nevertheless, under a Department of War decision, Fincantieri Marinette Marine will complete only the first two units, which are most likely to be deployed to the Pacific. On December 19th, the Secretary of the Navy announced the selec- tion of a new contractor for a series of multi-role frigates. The contract was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), with the platform based on the Legend-class patrol cutters. A key factor behind this decision is that the design is already mature and operationally pro- ven, with inherent modularity allowing for incremental capability upgrades across production batches. Ten vessels have been built for the US Coast Guard, where they perform critical missions. It is also worth noting that HII proposed a competing design in the 2020 FFG(X) competition, which was ultimately won by Fincantieri with the Constellation-class. To date, HII has delivered ten Legend-class cutters to the US Coast Guard. The cancellation of the eleventh unit leaves hull sections available for a prototype frigate. Image Credit: US Navy www.fragoutmag.com

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