US Navy Showcases Digital Technology for Future Constellation Frigate Bridge Design
The US Navy has demonstrated the digital capabilities to construct pilot house arrangements for the future Constellation class (FFG 62) guided-missile frigates.
The activity took place at the Mariner Skills Training Center Pacific in San Diego, California.
Modernizing Shipbuilding Approach
During the event, FFG experts reused existing design artifacts to build a live, virtual bridge environment of a Constellation vessel.
The virtual model provided the first preview of the ship’s operating area layout.
It also showed how sailors would interact with the arrangements throughout different watchstanding conditions.
“Within the program office, we recognize that the data we generate from day one has a purpose and utility that will be carried through the life of the program,” Constellation Class Frigate Product Support and Readiness Director Jonas Brown stated.
“This event was a showcase that demonstrates how we connect detail design and production artifacts together with manpower, training and sustainment concepts to create a digital engineering capability that modernizes Navy shipbuilding processes.”
‘A Team Sport’
Post-command representatives from in-service vessel classes, including the Arleigh Burke and Zumwalt destroyers, Freedom littoral combats, and San Antonio amphibious transport docks, contributed to the demonstration.
Each group relayed real-time design suggestions and operational feedback for the virtual bridge design.
“Shipbuilding is hard, and shipbuilding is a team sport,“ Constellation Class Frigate Program Manager Capt. Kevin Smith explained.
“By providing the forum and the tools to receive and incorporate feedback, we are able to expand the program’s reach and the depth of experience to ensure we deliver a world-class warship with world-class safety in navigation and operation.”
Supporting Constellation Class Lifecycle
The US Navy plans to diversify its digital shipbuilding technologies to support production, trials, logistics, and further design support throughout the service life of the future Constellation ships.
The new warships are being constructed at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin.
Work for the USS Constellation, the first of the class, began last year and is scheduled for completion by 2026.
