The adjustment follows the Navy’s announcement that it will retain only the first two Constellation-class frigates, Constellation (FFG-62) and Congress (FFG-63), while discontinuing the next four planned hulls to accelerate the development of new platforms. This approach supports the Navy’s effort to grow the fleet more quickly and to direct resources toward designs that can reach production at greater speed.
In this context, Fincantieri and the Navy have finalised an agreement that reshapes the programme now under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. The Group is consolidating its strategic partnership with the Navy, confirming its role in defining the future of American maritime defence through industrial capabilities and long-term investment.
Working closely with the Navy, Fincantieri will support the delivery of new classes of vessels that best meet the nation’s immediate operational needs and contribute to the revitalisation of U.S. shipbuilding. The company is expected to receive new orders in sectors such as amphibious ships, icebreakers, and other special-mission platforms, and it has stated that it is ready to execute contracts planned in coordination with the Navy.
The agreement ensures continuity of work on the two Constellation-class frigates currently under construction and provides for the discontinuation of the contract for the four additional frigates, reflecting the Navy’s evolving strategic priorities in the small surface combatant segment. The framework includes indemnification for Fincantieri Marine Group to cover existing economic commitments and industrial impacts arising from the contractual adjustment made for the Navy’s convenience.
This arrangement guarantees workforce stability and workload visibility for Fincantieri’s personnel and the Wisconsin System of Yards, which remains a key pillar of the U.S. maritime industrial base. Over recent years, Fincantieri has invested more than 800 million dollars across its four U.S. shipyards to maximise production efficiency, flexibility, and technological innovation, enabling the consolidation of an industrial supply chain suited to the Navy’s new priorities.
Fincantieri Marine Group now employs around 3,750 skilled workers in the United States, having increased its workforce by 850 to reinforce industrial capacity and meet demand. This expansion underlines the Group’s commitment to sustaining the local economy and supporting the broader national maritime supply chain.
Source: Fincantieri (press release).
