US Navy Reveals FF(X) Frigate Specifications To Rapidly Restore America’s Naval Power.

Washington; January 2026: On January 15, 2026, Chris Cavas shared that the U.S. Navy has released an official FF(X) frigate concept graphic at the Surface Navy Association symposium, outlining a new small surface combatant planned for contract award in 2026. The graphic, while confirming that the FF(X) design is based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter hull with limited structural modification to reduce risk and accelerate acquisition, also includes the first set of specifications for the new U.S. Navy frigate.

This official graphic from the U.S. Navy detailing the FF(X) frigate concept, released during the Surface Navy Association (SNA) symposium, outlines a new small surface combatant intended to be awarded in 2026. The frigate will be based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) hull form with limited structural changes, with the stated objective of reducing technical risk while accelerating acquisition timelines. The FF(X) is positioned as a rapid substitute following the termination of the Constellation-class frigate, while remaining smaller and less complex than an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The overall framing indicates a ship intended to restore fleet numbers and endurance rather than replicate the high-end combat role of destroyers.

The FF(X) layout emphasises a Flexible Weapons Station located aft, capable of embarking Naval Strike Missiles, counter-unmanned systems such as Hellfire-class missiles, or containerised payloads depending on mission requirements. This modular approach contrasts with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the Constellation-class frigate, whose combat power architectures are centered on a more traditional vertical launch system (VLS) for surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine weapons, and land-attack or anti-ship missiles.

In comparison with the U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class cutter, whose armament is limited to medium-caliber guns and light defensive systems, the FF(X) shifts the focus from patrol and security tasks toward surface strike, escort defence, and layered self-protection missions. At the SNA, the missile allocation specifies up to 16 Naval Strike Missiles or, alternatively, a 48-cell Hellfire counter-UAS load, combined with a single 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile launcher.

Defensive and sensor systems shown on the graphic include the SPS-77 air search radar, the SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare suite, two Nulka active decoy launchers to counter incoming anti-ship missiles, and a Mk 49 RAM launcher for hard-kill defence. This combination is consistent with escort support, maritime interdiction, and counter-unmanned missions, rather than area air defence at the scale expected of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The Constellation-class was intended to cover anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and electromagnetic warfare roles, but the FF(X) concept reduces system complexity in favour of faster production and modular growth. Relative to the Legend-class cutter, the inclusion of dedicated missile defence and electronic warfare systems signals a clear transition toward operations in contested environments. The defensive architecture is therefore better aligned with survivability during distributed and forward-deployed missions.

Gun armament on the FF(X) consists of a 57mm main gun and a 30mm secondary gun, supporting close-in defence, maritime security, and engagements against small surface and air threats. In comparison, Arleigh Burke destroyers rely primarily on missiles for lethality, with guns playing a secondary role, while the FF(X) concept balances guns with a reconfigurable missile fit.

The Constellation-class was expected to field a more complex weapons suite tied to a larger displacement, whereas the FF(X) focuses on a simpler configuration to accelerate the serial production. Compared with the Legend-class cutter, the 57mm gun aligns with existing U.S. naval practice, but the FF(X) pairs it with explicit missile strike and counter-UAS roles. The presence of containerised mission packages further underlines the intent to adjust capability between deployments without structural redesign.

Aviation and unmanned integration are central to the FF(X) concept, with capacity for either an embarked manned helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicles. The mission set includes unmanned command-and-control, indicating that the frigate is intended to act as a coordination node for unmanned systems rather than operating in isolation. Arleigh Burke-class ships routinely operate helicopters and can support unmanned assets, but their role is dominated by fleet air defence and strike integration.

The Constellation-class also incorporated aviation for multi-mission operations, yet the FF(X) graphic places unmanned coordination more prominently within its core functions. Relative to the Legend-class cutter, which also operates aviation assets, the FF(X) assigns these capabilities directly to combat escort, interdiction, and counter-UxS tasks, covering threats from unmanned surface, air, and subsurface systems. This reflects a broader shift toward manned-unmanned teaming in surface warfare.

The specifications panel lists a length of 421 feet (128.3 m), a beam of 54 feet (16.5 m), a draft of 22 feet (6.7 m), and a displacement of 4,750 feet, with a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h), an endurance of 60 days, and a range of 12,000 nautical miles (22,224 km). These figures could place the FF(X) well below the size and displacement of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, while also smaller than the later Constellation-class estimates that approached 8,000 tons. At the same time, the dimensions are closely aligned with the Legend-class National Security Cutter baseline, reinforcing the design lineage.

The listed crew of 148 reflects an emphasis on manageable manning while still supporting aviation and mission packages. The optionality section further defines the FF(X) size band as 350 to 450 feet (107 to 137 m), alongside unmanned vessels ranging from 75 to 250 feet (23 to 76 m) in length as part of a mixed manned-unmanned force structure, highlighting a scalable family approach.

The FF(X) programmatic framing includes a notional class size of 50 to 65 ships across multiple flights, indicating an ambition to make the frigate a major component of the surface fleet. This scale differentiates it from the truncated Constellation-class effort and complements the continued reliance on Arleigh Burke destroyers for high-end missions. The mission set listed on the graphic includes surface warfare, offensive surface strike, maritime interdiction operations, escort support, counter-UxS, and unmanned command-and-control, allowing the frigate to shift emphasis between anti-submarine warfare and strike roles across different configurations and flights.

By combining a cutter-derived hull, modular weapons stations, and distributed mission concepts, the FF(X) is positioned as a volume platform intended to restore endurance and coverage across theaters. The concept therefore sits below destroyers in capability, below the original Constellation vision in complexity, and above the Legend-class cutter in combat orientation, forming a distinct layer within the U.S. Navy surface force.

The FF(X) program emerged after the U.S. Navy cancelled most of the Constellation-class frigate program, which had been derived from the Franco-Italian FREMM design and suffered from extensive modifications to meet U.S. survivability standards. By 2025, the Constellation-class design shared less than 15% commonality with its parent design, contributing to cost growth and schedule delays that pushed delivery of the first ship to 2029. In contrast, the FF(X) approach is based on freezing requirements early and minimizing deviation from a proven U.S. design. The Navy has identified a requirement for 73 small surface combatants, making the timely delivery of a scalable frigate class a central force-structure issue.

Taken together, the current available information describes an FF(X) frigate that is expected to begin construction in the near term, remain closely aligned with the Legend-class National Security Cutter design, and target an initial trial run in 2028. The ship’s characteristics, armament, and deferred capabilities reflect a deliberate emphasis on speed, predictability, and industrial stability, as China’s navy, already described as the world’s largest by number of hulls, with an overall battle force expected to grow to about 395 by 2025 and to roughly 435 by 2030.

Reports indicate the PLAN has built more than 40 frigates of the Type 054 series across several variants, such as the Type 054B. For now, China has been adding frigates at a faster annual pace than the U.S., which seems to struggle to renew and expand its frigate fleet.

Team Maverick.