The U.S. Navy is officially pursuing a new class of smaller, more agile combatant ships that service leadership says will become a “critical component of the Navy’s fleet of the future.”
The first hull of the future FF(X) class is expected to hit the water in 2028. The vessel will be based on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter design, serving as a nimble companion to the Navy’s larger, heavier warships, according to a Dec. 19 video announcement by Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Why it matters
The strategic shift comes as recent warship deployments to the Red Sea and Caribbean have served as glaring reminders that the service requires a more flexible frigate class. Currently, the Navy relies heavily on large guided-missile destroyers for a wide variety of tasks, stretching resources thin.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle stated that the current small surface combatant inventory is only “a third of what we need.” By introducing the FF(X), the Navy aims to close that gap with capable blue-water small combatants, allowing larger destroyers to remain focused on high-end fights.
What to know
To ensure rapid delivery, the Navy is bypassing an experimental design phase. “To deliver at speed and scale, I’ve directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on [the design by Huntington Ingalls Industries],” Phelan said. The design is described as a proven, American-built ship that is already protecting U.S. interests.
According to the official Navy announcement, the FF(X) is touted as a “highly adaptable vessel.” It will be capable of carrying out a diverse range of tasks, from surface warfare missions and modular payload transport to unmanned systems operations.
The decision to use a pre-existing hull design is also a direct response to production issues. A March 2025 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailed two decades of lackluster performance across U.S. shipyards, citing unrealistic cost and timing expectations. At the time, the GAO categorized the industry as operating in a “perpetual state of triage.” Officials hope the Legend-class design will mitigate the cost and scheduling risks that have plagued the service recently.
What people are saying
Navy leadership is emphasizing the reliability of the chosen platform. “We know this frigate design works,” Adm. Caudle said. “We know it operates with the fleet. And most importantly, we know how to build it — now.”
Secretary Phelan noted that the initiative has high-level support, stating that “President Trump and the secretary of war have signed off on this as part of the Golden Fleet.”
Huntington Ingalls Industries, whose design is the basis for the new class, will play a central role in the initial acquisition. Phelan made the metrics for success clear: “Shipyards will be measured against one outcome: delivering combat power to the fleet as fast as possible.”
What happens next
The new class will be acquired using a lead shipyard strategy, followed by a competitive follow-on strategy for multi-yard construction to increase capacity.
The Navy aims to replicate the approach taken with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, producing a base design that can be upgraded over decades as technology evolves and new threats emerge. With the first hull expected in 2028, the service is moving aggressively to integrate these smaller combatants into the fleet before the end of the decade.
