The American company Marinette Marine Corp. was awarded a $1.04 billion contract by the US Department of Defense to design and build two Constellation-class frigates (FFG 66 and FFG 67) with guided missile weapons. This is stated in a written statement of the Pentagon, published on Thursday, TASS reported.
Work will be performed in the states of Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia and should be completed by April 2030.
Constellation frigates are a type of small surface combatant of a new generation. It is envisaged that they will be used to combat ships, submarines and conduct radio-electronic countermeasures. Their armament will consist of cruise, anti-ship and guided missiles, including those launched from vertical launch systems, automatic cannons, electronic warfare systems and more.
Frigates can carry helicopters, drones, as well as high-speed rigid-hull inflatable boats. The crew of the Constellation frigate is up to 200 people.