US Navy orders first FF(X) frigates in FY2027 budget to replace Arleigh Burke destroyers in routine missions.

The U.S. Navy has formally funded the first four FF(X) frigates in its FY2027 budget, launching a new ship class designed to take over routine missions from Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. This investment signals a US Navy shift in force structure that preserves high-end combatants for major conflict while sustaining global maritime presence at lower cost.

The initial FF(X) Flight I design trades heavy onboard weapons for faster production and modular capability, relying on containerized payloads, advanced sensors, and integration with unmanned systems. This reflects a broader transition toward distributed and adaptable naval warfare, where ships can be reconfigured for mission needs and progressively upgraded with greater firepower in later variants.

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The cost breakdown includes $972.5M for basic construction, representing about 58 percent of the total, $331.1M for electronics at about 20 percent, $53.8M for ordnance at roughly 3 percent, and $29M for hull, mechanical, and electrical systems at about 2 percent, with other costs totaling about $53M. (Picture source: HII)

On April 21, 2026, the FY2027 Department of the Navy budget formally introduced the FF(X) frigate program as a new class within a broader fleet restructuring effort, pairing it with the new Trump-class battleship program under the Golden Fleet concept. The procurement specifies one ship in FY2027, one in FY2029, and two in FY2031, leading to a total objective of 22 ships. The lead unit is funded at $1.429B in FY2027 against a full ship cost of $1.671B, while research and development funding for the program in FY2027 is set at about $212M, to support design completion and early integration work.

The FF(X) program is structured to increase the number of the U.S. Navy's small surface combatants and reduce demand on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for routine missions such as maritime security and presence operations. The initial Flight I configuration is intentionally limited to reduce design complexity and accelerate procurement timelines. Key capabilities, including a fixed vertical launch system and expanded anti-submarine warfare systems, are deferred to later variants, creating a phased capability approach rather than a fully equipped baseline. 

The acquisition schedule establishes a contract award for the first ship in March 2027, followed by construction start in June 2027 and delivery in June 2030, corresponding to a 36-month construction period and final completion of fitting-out in March 2031. The second ship is scheduled for contract award in March 2029 and delivery in June 2033, with a total duration of 51 months, potentially reflecting additional integration and sequencing adjustments. Ships three and four, funded in FY2031, are planned for delivery in June 2036, with build durations extended to between 60 and 63 months due to the introduction of additional shipyards and associated workforce ramp-up requirements.

The FF(X) program follows the reduction of the Constellation-class frigate program in November 2025, where only two ships under construction were retained, and four others on order were cancelled out of a planned 20-unit order. According to the FY2027 budget, the first two FF(X) ships are assigned to Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula under a sole-source arrangement. From the third ship onward, the program transitions to competitive procurement to expand the industrial base and distribute production capacity across multiple shipyards. The FF(X) frigate design is based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) hull, of which ten ships have been delivered and have about 17 years of operational service, providing a mature and validated baseline for rapid production.

The FF(X) will measure 421 ft (128.3 m) in length, with a beam of 54 ft (16.5 m), a draft of 22 ft (6.7 m), and a displacement of about 4,750 tons, maintaining the original hull geometry. Flight I modifications are limited to mission integration changes, avoiding major structural redesign to compress the timeline from design to construction. The stern ramp used in the cutter configuration is replaced with a flexible weapons station designed to support modular payloads. The first FF(X) will incorporate pre-existing materials from the unused NSC-11 hull to accelerate construction of the unit and reduce procurement lead times. A Critical Design Review is scheduled for May 2026, setting the design baseline before construction begins.

The cost estimate is classified as Class C, indicating moderate uncertainty at this stage of design maturity, as the baseline configuration does not include aviation facilities such as a hangar or dedicated unmanned aerial system support. The Flight I combat system configuration excludes a fixed vertical launch system (VLS), reducing integration complexity and initial cost while limiting organic missile capacity. Instead, the ship is designed to employ containerized payload modules capable of delivering VLS-equivalent functionality through modular integration. The flexible weapons station enables loading and deployment of these payloads, allowing mission-specific configurations without permanent installation.

Electronics account for $331.1M, representing about 20 percent of the total ship cost, and include systems such as the SPS-77 radar, Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, AEHF multiband communications terminal, and a tactical COMINT system. Additional systems include ADNS, NAVMACS, GPS, TACAN, and other communication and navigation networks required for integration into fleet operations. Ordnance funding is limited to $53.8M, reflecting reduced onboard missile capacity and reliance on modular payloads for strike capabilities. This configuration prioritizes sensor integration and network connectivity over traditional fixed missile armament in early units. 

Future capability growth is structured through a flight-based development approach, with Flight II preliminary design starting in FY2027 and focusing on expanding combat capability. Planned additions include integration of a fixed vertical launch system and expansion of anti-submarine warfare capabilities, addressing limitations in the Flight I configuration. The design incorporates reserved margins in space, weight, and power to allow these upgrades without requiring major structural changes. The program follows a model similar to DDG-51 destroyers, where successive flights introduce incremental capability improvements. Containerized payload modules remain central to early configurations, but later variants are expected to transition toward more integrated weapon systems.

A Navy-standard gun system, referenced as MK 48 GWS in cost tables, is included as part of the baseline armament evolution. The timing and scope of these upgrades depend on funding availability and industrial throughput, creating potential variability in capability development across the production run. The FF(X) is designed to function as a command-and-control node for robotic and autonomous systems, integrating unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles into naval operations. This role is supported through existing Navy combat systems, with a planned transition to an Aegis-based Integrated Combat System in later configurations. The design includes dedicated provisions for hardware and software required to control unmanned assets, ensuring compatibility with future systems.

Integration is achieved through onboard communications and combat networks, allowing coordination of distributed sensors and weapon systems across multiple domains. The architecture supports shared containerized payloads with Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels, enabling common mission modules between manned and unmanned units. This approach separates payloads from the hull, allowing flexible deployment of sensors and weapons independent of the ship’s fixed configuration. The concept supports distributed operations where unmanned assets extend surveillance and strike capabilities beyond the ship’s organic systems. 

Operational employment focuses on surface warfare, counter-UAS missions, and maritime security operations, with secondary roles including counter-drug enforcement, migration control, and sea lane protection. The ship is intended to assume routine global presence missions currently assigned to DDG-51 destroyers, allowing those units to focus on higher-intensity combat roles. The modular architecture enables rapid reconfiguration of mission systems, including weapons, sensors, and command packages, depending on operational requirements.

The frigate is positioned as a forward-deployed node within distributed maritime operations, contributing to networked force structures. It is expected to command “Tailored Offsets” groupings that integrate unmanned systems into operational deployments. The “plug-and-play” concept enables rapid integration of mission modules, although interface standards are not yet defined. This operational model emphasizes adaptability and mission flexibility rather than fixed specialization. The cost structure places the total FF(X) cost at $1.671B for FY2027, with net procurement funding at $1.429B after prior-year contributions, and a total program acquisition cost of about $36.1B for 22 ships.

The cost breakdown includes $972.5M for basic construction, representing about 58 percent of the total, $331.1M for electronics at about 20 percent, $53.8M for ordnance at roughly 3 percent, and $29M for hull, mechanical, and electrical systems at about 2 percent, with other costs totaling about $53M. Advance procurement funding is programmed at $297M in FY2028 and $912M in FY2030 to support future units. Program risks include the absence of a fixed vertical launch system in Flight I, which reduces immediate strike capacity compared to other frigate designs. The reliance on containerized payloads introduces logistical requirements for payload handling, storage, and integration cycles. Additional risks include industrial expansion challenges linked to new shipyard participation, cost uncertainty associated with the Class C estimate, and capability gaps between early and later variants, while operational effectiveness depends on integration with unmanned systems for extended surveillance and strike functions.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.