Lockheed Martin has been contracted to design the combat management system integrated with the US Navy’s new Constellation-class frigates.
The company will base the design on the COMBATSS-21 ship combat management system currently aboard the Freedom-class littoral combat ships. The new system features custom software adapters that can support sensors, communications, and weapon interfaces.
The COMBATSS-21 is also designed to accommodate future technology insertions and system upgrades without affecting the software’s core system. Its configurations also allow for adaptability to vessels ranging from patrol craft to large-deck ships.
In addition to designing the combat system for Constellation frigates, the defense company is also building a combat system for the navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
USS Constellation Frigates
The USS Constellation will serve as the lead ship of the Constellation class of guided-missile frigates. They will accommodate 32 Vertical Launch System cells that can handle high-powered missiles and machine guns.
The vessels will provide escort protection to capital ships and act as advance scouts. They will also assist with command and control for lightly-armed surface warships.
American shipbuilding firm Fincantieri Marinette Marine has been tapped to build the frigates. The 496-foot ships will have a top speed in excess of 26 knots (29 miles per hour) with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.
Construction of the Constellation-class frigates will begin this year following final design review. The US Navy said it will acquire 20 of the new ships by 2026.
