Navy Sets Q1 FY 2029 Launch For Us Navy Ff(x) Frigate Program
The U.S. Navy is seeking to launch the first ship in the us navy ff(x) frigate program in the first quarter of fiscal year 2029, with delivery planned by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2030. The schedule ties the lead ship to about four years of progress from program start if the timeline holds.
The FY 2027 budget documentation puts about $1.429 billion toward procurement of the lead ship and another $212 million toward research and development. Huntington Ingalls Industries is planned to be the prime contractor, and the Navy plans to use components from the cancelled 11th ship of the Legend-class Coast Guard cutters in the program’s design work.
FY 2027 Budget Plan
The budget numbers give the clearest view of the program’s near-term path. The Navy lists about $1.429 billion for the lead ship and $212 million for research and development in FY 2027, signaling that the first hull is moving through procurement and engineering work at the same time.
The service plans 55 to 60 FF(X) frigates overall. Most of those ships are expected to use an upgraded standard with enhanced anti-submarine warfare and anti-air warfare capabilities, but the first two or more Flight 1 ships will stay close to the National Security Cutter baseline.
Flight 1 Changes
For Flight 1, the Navy plans only limited changes from that baseline. The list includes a Rolling Airframe Missile launcher, an SPS-77 variant air search radar, and a repurposed stern boat ramp for containerized payloads.
The first two FF(X) ships are intended to make up at least the opening Flight 1 group. That gives the Navy a narrower first step before it moves to a larger class that it says may add more firepower and more anti-submarine systems.
Flight 2 Design Work
The Navy has already started looking at Vertical Launching Systems for Flight 2. If those cells are added, the frigates may carry ESSM, SM-2, SM-6, and RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles, according to the Navy’s plan.
The service is also looking into integrating innate anti-submarine warfare systems into FF(X) architecture. For readers tracking the schedule, the important marker is simple: the first ship is aimed for a Q1 FY 2029 launch and a Q3 FY 2030 delivery, while the later ships are being shaped around a more capable standard.
