USS Constellation (FFG-62)

USS Constellation (FFG-62)[1] will be the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates[2] 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 United States Navy, which itself was named for the constellation of stars on the flag of the United States.[2] The ship will be sponsored by Melissa Braithwaite, the wife of Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite.[3]

Artist rendering of the final Constellation-class design
History
United States
Name:	Constellation
Namesake:	USS Constellation
Ordered:	30 April 2020[1]
Builder:	Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wisconsin
Sponsored by:	Melissa Braithwaite
Identification:	FFG-62
Status:	On order
General characteristics
Class and 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:	26 ft (7.92 m)
Propulsion:	CODLAG
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:	2x rigid-hulled inflatable boats
Capacity:	200 accommodations
Complement:	140 crew
Sensors and 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 AN/SLQ-61 light weight towed array sonar AN/SQS-62 Variable-Depth Sonar AN/SQQ-89F undersea warfare/anti-submarine warfare combat system Cooperative Engagement Capability
Armament:	32 Mark 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 8x or 16x canister launched Over-the-horizon Anti-Ship Weapons (likely Naval Strike Missile) 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:	1x MH-60R Seahawk helicopter MQ-8C Firescout

Construction of the Constellation will commence in 2021 following the final design review. The ship is expected to enter service in 2026.[4]

References

1. "Constellation (FFG-62)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
2. "SECNAV Names Navy's Newest Class of FFG(X) Ships" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
3. "SECNAV Names Future Vessels while aboard Historic Navy Ship". United States Navy. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
4. LaGrone, Sam (15 January 2021). "Navy: First Constellation Frigate Will Start Fabrication This Year as Shipyard Expands". USNI News. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.