The United States Navy currently does not operate ships formally designated as traditional frigates. Instead, it fields Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in small, agile classes and is pursuing a new generation of guided-munition frigates under the Constellation program. This article explains how many ships count as frigates today, what officially counts as a frigate, and what the future holds for US Navy frigate capabilities.
Current Frigate Status And Definitions
In U.S. Navy terminology, the word “frigate” typically refers to a ship class formally designated as a multi-mission frigate (FFG) or a future frigate (FFG-62 and beyond). As of now, no ships are commissioned with the FFG designation in active service. The Navy operates two primary coastal and near-sho re combat platforms that some observers colloquially call “frigates” but are officially classified as Littoral Combat Ships (LCS): the Freedom-class and Independence-class ships. These vessels were designed for versatility, including surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine missions near coastlines, but they are not designated as frigates in Navy inventories.
Littoral Combat Ships: The Near-Future Frigate Debate
The LCS program produces two distinct hull designs: the Freedom-class and the Independence-class. Both are designed for speed, modular mission packages, and shallow-water operations. While some media and defense analysts refer to them as “small frigates” or “littoral frigates,” the Navy has consistently categorized them as LCS. The ships fill roles that overlap with traditional frigate missions—sea control, coastal security, and surface warfare—yet they remain outside the official frigate designation. As a result, the current count of ships officially labeled as frigates remains zero, while LCS platforms serve a portion of the capabilities commonly associated with frigates.
Constellation-Class Frigate: The Roadmap To A True Frigate
To rectify the gap between traditional frigate capabilities and fleet requirements, the Navy has initiated the Constellation-class program, designated FFG-62 and onward. These ships are purpose-built to deliver air and missile defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, and higher-end networked warfare capabilities. The Constellation-class represents the transition to a true, purpose-built frigate in U.S. Navy nomenclature. As of the latest public updates, these ships are under development and early procurement steps are underway, with initial ship design, testing, and construction phases planned over the coming years. When commissioned, these ships will mark the first official frigates in U.S. Navy service in many years.
How The Counts Break Down
- Official frigates in service: 0
- Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in service: multiple ships across Freedom-class and Independence-class, designed for near-shore operations but not designated as frigates
- Future frigates (Constellation-class, FFG-62 onward): planned development and procurement; first ships to transition the fleet to true frigate capability
Readers should note that the exact number of LCS in service can be influenced by commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning schedules. However, the key point remains: as of today, no ship is officially a U.S. Navy frigate in the traditional sense, and the Constellation program is explicitly aimed at delivering that capability in the future.
Why The Distinction Matters
The distinction between LCS and frigates matters for naval doctrine, budgeting, and strategic planning. Frigates in the U.S. Navy carry a different set of expected missions, air and missile defense standards, and alliance interoperability requirements than LCS. The transition to a dedicated frigate class with the Constellation program is designed to provide a more robust, survivable, and networked platform capable of operating in advanced threat environments and contributing more effectively to distributed maritime operations.
Timeline And Implications For U.S. Naval Power
Assuming timely progress, the Constellation-class program aims to add a new, officially designated frigate capability to the fleet in the coming years. This will gradually shift the U.S. Navy’s frigate count from zero (in the formal sense) toward a layered air, missile, and surface warfare architecture that includes a capable, modern frigate. In the interim, the Navy continues to rely on LCS platforms and other destroyer/frigate-equivalent ships for fleet missions, while validating and testing the technologies that will underpin the Constellation-class ships.
What This Means For U.S. Naval Strategy
- Fleet mix: The introduction of Constellation-class frigates will diversify surface combatant capabilities and improve distributed maritime operations.
- Alliance interoperability: A true frigate class enhances interoperability with NATO allies, particularly in air and missile defense and anti-submarine warfare.
- Industrial and budgeting implications: The procurement and construction timeline for FFG-62 affects long-range shipbuilding plans and budget allocations.
The broader strategic impact is a more capable surface fleet prepared to counter evolving threats in multi-domain environments, while the LCS program continues to contribute to near-coast and adaptable mission profiles during the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there any U.S. Navy ships officially named “frigates” today? No. The fleet currently uses Littoral Combat Ships, which are not designated as frigates.
- When will the Constellation-class frigates enter service? The program is in development, with initial ships progressing through design, construction, and testing phases in the coming years; exact commissioning timelines are subject to program milestones.
- Why were LCS ships not labeled as frigates? The LCS program aimed to deliver versatile, fast ships for near-shore missions with modular mission packages; official frigate designation was deferred to a dedicated next-generation class to meet specific combat requirements.
Key takeaway: The U.S. Navy currently has zero officially designated frigates in active service. The fleet relies on Littoral Combat Ships for near-shore operations and is moving toward a new generation of frigates under the Constellation program to reintroduce a dedicated, modern frigate capability in the future.