Frigate Development

Mission — FRIGATE Development source

The Constellation Class Frigate (FFG 62) is a more lethal and survivable multi-mission small surface combatant. With FFG 62, the Navy will maximize the small surface combatant capabilities in the Anti-Surface Warfare (SUW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Electronic Warfare/Information Operations (EW/IO), Air Warfare (AW) mission areas, and survivability while keeping the ship an affordable component of the "high-low" mix of surface ships. The FFG 62 Capability Development Document (CDD) was approved by the Joint Requirement Oversight Council (JROC) in Feb 2019 and completed Milestone B, an informed Independent Cost Estimate, and award of the Detail Design & Construction (DD&C) contract in April 2020. FY26 funds continue development of the Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) capability via the Combined Active Passive Towed Array Sonar (CAPTAS) and continue Combat System and AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) integration, Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) and Developmental Testing (DT) support as well as Cyber security implementation and Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) construction. FY25 funds continue development of the Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) capability via the Combined Active Passive Towed Array Sonar (CAPTAS) and continue Combat System and Over-the-Horizon (OTH) development and AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) integration, Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) and Developmental Testing (DT) support as well as Cyber security implementation and Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) construction. FY24 funds developed Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) capability via the Combined Active Passive Towed Array Sonar (CAPTAS) and continue Combat System and Over-the-Horizon (OTH) development and AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) integration, test and evaluation efforts including Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) and Developmental Testing (DT) support as well as Cyber security implementation and LBES construction.

Mission — Frigate source

Frigate (FFG 62 Class) efforts are composed of the design and development for a more lethal and survivable multi-mission warship focused on Anti-Surface Warfare (SUW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities (ASW), local air defense and enhanced survivability features. FFG 62 Class design modifications for added capability over the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) include an Over-the-Horizon (OTH) surface-to-surface missile system, upgraded air defense weapons and sensors, advanced electronic warfare system and improved decoys, local air defense, and enhanced survivability features. This effort will encompass design, development, and technical issue resolution to support design maturity for DD&C FY 2020 contract award. Certification and testing efforts are also required to support the FFG 62 Class delivery, operations, and introduction to the fleet. The FFG 62 Class design and development phases include platform design, development and risk reduction; combat system element integration; total ship system engineering and integration; combat systems and warfare systems certification; and planning and conduct of system testing. These efforts include procurement of combat and warfare system equipment and/or simulators to support production representative testing in support of design, development, and certification efforts and ordnance in support of testing. This funding will also include efforts and activities required for formal Developmental and Operational testing of the FFG 62 program. Test and Evaluation (T&E) will concentrate on verifying integration and interoperability of employed technologies and systems in the FFG 62 design to achieve the mission capabilities and performance requirements as defined in the FFG 62 Class Capability Development Document (CDD). Funding will also be for the execution of LFT&E DT, C4I integration & test, cyber test and certification, warfare system integration & test and certification, aviation (manned and unmanned) integration & test and certification. T&E functions will include the evaluation of Critical Technical Parameters (CTP), Measures of Effectiveness (MOE), Measures of Suitability (MOS), and Key Performance Parameters (KPP).

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)