USS Constellation (FFG-62)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Constellation.

USS Constellation (FFG-62)^[1] will be the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates^[5] and the fifth ship in the United States Navy bearing this name. She is named in honor of the first USS Constellation, one of the original six frigates of the U.S. Navy, which was named for the constellation of stars on the flag of the United States.^[5] The ship will be sponsored by Melissa Braithwaite, the wife of Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite.^[6]

Artist rendering of the final Constellation-class design
History
United States
Name	Constellation
Namesake	USS Constellation
Awarded	30 April 2020[1]
Builder	Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wisconsin
Laid down	12 April 2024[2]
Sponsored by	Melissa Braithwaite
Homeport	NS Everett, WA
Identification	Hull number: FFG-62
Status	Under construction
General characteristics
Class & type	Constellation-class frigate
Displacement	7,400 short tons (6,700 t)
Length	496 ft (151.18 m)
Beam	65 ft (19.81 m)
Draft	18 ft (5.49 m)
Propulsion	CODLAG 1 × General Electric LM2500+G4 gas turbine[3] driving a Philadelphia Gear Gearbox system[4] 2 × electric propulsion motors: INDAR 2 x 3.4 MW 4 × ship service diesel generators Rolls-Royce MTU 20V 4000 M53B engine 3000 kW for a total output of 12 MW electrical ship power 2 x fixed-pitch propellers 1 × auxiliary propulsion unit Thrustmasters of Texas Hydrologic Retractable Thruster
Speed	in excess of 26 kn (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) (electric drive)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × 7m or 2 x 11m rigid-hulled inflatable boats
Capacity	200 accommodations
Complement	140 crew
Sensors & processing systems	COMBATSS-21 Combat Management System (AEGIS derivative) AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) AN/SPS-73(V)18 - Next Generation Surface Search Radar TB-37 Multi-Function towed array sonar Thales Group CAPTAS-4 Low Frequency Variable-Depth Sonar AN/SQQ-89(V)15 undersea warfare/anti-submarine warfare combat system Cooperative Engagement Capability
Armament	32 Mk 41 VLS cells with: Possibly RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 and/or RIM-174 Standard ERAM missiles Planned RIM-66 Standard SM-2 Block 3C 16 × canister launched Naval Strike Missiles RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launched from Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System (21 cell) Mk 110 57mm gun with the Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance (ALaMO) projectile and related systems. Various machine guns M240 or M2
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopter 1 x MQ-8C Firescout
Aviation facilities	Secure & Traverse Aircraft Handling System * Horizontal Reference System * Night Vision Device Compatibility

Construction of Constellation began on 31 August 2022,^[7] and the keel was laid on 12 April 2024.^[2] She was originally expected to enter service in 2026,^[8] but because of design changes^[9] and projected service life limitations,^[10] she is not expected to be delivered until 2029.^[11] Delays at Mariette Marine are due to the "yard’s increased workload, difficulty hiring and keeping talent, and the varying stages of the three programs" under way there at present.