(Another) U.S. Shipbuilding Disaster - The Constellation Class & U.S. Fleet Modernisation

Sponsored by Ground News: Compare news coverage. Spot media bias. Avoid algorithms. Try Ground News today and get 40% off your subscription by going to https://ground.news/perun There's a lot that goes into having a capable navy - but being able to design and build quality warships usually helps. Since the end of the Cold War the U.S. has been able to design and introduce a range of new designs including a new supercarrier and the Virginia class submarine. But attempts to build new surface combatants have struggled. Zumwalt, LCS...and now the Constellation class Frigate. Now announced as cancelled, Constellation (FFG-62) was meant to be a safer option, based on a proven parent design and critical to future US shipbuilding plans. So today, we ask why the U.S. turned to a Frigate program, how it fit into the struggle to modernise the post cold war fleet, and what the end of the program might mean for the USN. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PerunAU Reading and Sourcing (Partial due to late release): GAO-24-106546 - Report to Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives - NAVY FRIGATE - Unstable Design Has Stalled Construction and Compromised Delivery Schedules (2024) GAO-25-107569 - Weapon Systems Annual Assessment (June 2025) https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107569.pdf GAO-25-108136 - NAVY SHIPBUILDING A Generational Imperative for Systemic Change https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-108136.pdf First Constellation Class only 10% complete: https://www.twz.com/sea/first-constellation-frigate-only-10-complete-design-still-being-finalized Report from 2019 to give a sense of how the Frigates were viewed at the time https://www.twz.com/26217/the-navys-future-frigates-are-shaping-up-to-be-more-lethal-and-capable-as-well-as-cheaper https://www.twz.com/sea/first-constellation-frigate-only-10-complete-design-still-being-finalized Reporting on Germany and LUMV concept https://www.twz.com/air/germany-to-build-uncrewed-missile-toting-arsenal-ships-for-its-frigates OSD Comptroller Says U.S. Shipyards Can’t Build 3 Destroyers a Year https://news.usni.org/2023/03/21/osd-comptroller-says-u-s-shipyards-cant-build-3-destroyers-a-year Reporting on cancellation of LCS ASW mission module https://news.usni.org/2022/05/13/navys-cancellation-of-asw-mission-package-for-littoral-combat-ship-triggers-nunn-mccurdy-breach Caveats & Comments: All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions. Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character. Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on. Timestamps: 00:00:00 — What Am I Talking About? 00:04:05 — Naval Strategy & Built Strategy 00:07:21 — the 600 Ship Navy 00:16:19 — the New Navy 00:23:15 — Program Implosion 00:28:13 — Shooting for the Stars 00:33:18 — the Disaster 00:45:13 — What Can We Learn? 00:49:20 — What Next? 01:00:45 — Channel Update