Want to talk about the state of the Constellation class frigate. Should have been in service by now, is not due to NUMEROUS design changes as they were building it, including the addition of a Combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) system, which is the naval equivalent of a hybrid drive, which the US navy has very little experience with. My best guess as to WHY they want this is pretty simple, war with China, they want range, lots of it, the pacific is big, which for a frigate which main job is to escort convoys and generally add firepower to a fleet, yeah that's important.
It was based off the FREMM frigate, a Euro design, but due to ALL the changes, not just the engine, but weapons, sensors, etc, its practically a new ship class. This is the
Carlo Bergamini for example:
And this is the Constellation. Its been stretched like a Limo for all those anti ship missiles in the middle, has completely different VLS cells, MK41 instead of Sylver, different gun entirely-57mm Bofors US Navy standard-, the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System, RAM launcher in the back, and the hull shape itself, which when they started to integrate the electric drive, HAD to change, it was too beefy for the FREMM hull.
It does not help that the shipyard in charge of this project, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, was in dire fucking straits before the Trump admin gave them this 20 ship contract to keep them open. As such however, they've had trouble finding skilled labor. The first ship, USS Constellation was supposed to be out at sea this year in 2024. It has moved to 2029 do to redesigns, bungling, etc.
And its sad! The thing is the frigate, when it hits sea, will be a fucking monster. Absolute rape beast. The Anti ship missiles will likely be the Naval Strike Missile, a lightweight stealth anti ship missile with the capability of hitting land targets. And it will have 16 of them on tap:
Look at it. Base model has a >200km/110nmi/120mi range. The NSM 1A, the improved model has a 250KM/130nmi/160mi range. Its a beast. Well and truly capable of hitting targets over the horizon, be it on land or sea.
This is not even including the ability of the Constellation to carry fucking Tomahawks. 1000 miles. Land or ship targets with the Block V variant. There has been talk of bringing the NUCLEAR variant back from the dead. In any case, absolute rape.
As for air defense, pretty standard fare, ESSM, RIM-66, and the capability of launching RIM-174, the new heavy anti air hitter that can basically do it all (if you're willing to break the bank), including anti ballistic missile defense in a pinch. It also has a RIM-166 Rolling Airframe Missile system with 21 rounds in the launcher for point defense.
For aircraft carried, it has a big ass hanger for a MH-60R Seahawk, and oddly, a MQ-8C Firescout, this thing:
Basically a drone version of a Bell 407 for recon and targeting. Really expands the eyes of a fleet.
As for the seahawk thats for anti sub work. One thing i will gripe about is the lack of torpedo tubes on this thing. If the Seahawk gets disabled and it isnt carrying ASROCK anti sub missiles, its anti sub capability disappears. I feel that's a major shortcoming. Its like not carrying a pistol with your rifle as a commando. Like, the fuck bro?
And here's some good videos from Sub Brief on the ship itself and the mismanagement:
I really just wanted to make a essay on this thing. It has so much potential but its being held back by navy planners saying "hey i know we said we wanted this at the start, but now we want this" and by a ship yard that basically got resuscitated from the brink of death, and as such, is a mess. It CAN be great, it just needs to get there. Any thoughts or discussion is welcome.
!
