US Navy turns to HII to construct future small surface combatants

December 22, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been selected by the US Navy to design and build the future small surface combatant, the FF(X).

As disclosed, the design of the vessel will be based on the Ingalls-built Legend-class national security cutter (NSC). The FF(X) will be a smaller, more agile surface combatant designed to complement the fleet’s larger, multi-mission warships and enhance operational flexibility around the globe.

The primary mission of the ships will be surface warfare, but they will be able to arry modular payloads and command unmanned systems.

According to the US Navy, the small surface combatants have always been essential to the fleet, handling a wide range of missions where a large warship isn’t required. The FF(X) will continue this vital role and will take on more routine operations, enhancing the fleet’s operational flexibility, adaptability, and mission readiness, it was highlighted.

“President Trump and the Secretary of War have signed off on this as part of the Golden Fleet. Our goal is clear: launch the first hull in the water in 2028. To expand capacity and production across our maritime industrial base, we will acquire these ships using a lead yard, and competitive follow-on strategy for multi-yard construction. Shipyards will be measured against one outcome: delivering combat power to the Fleet as fast as possible,” said John C. Phelan, Secretary of the Navy.

“We look forward to supporting the Navy on this critical program,” commented Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO.

“Speed matters, and the NSC ship design is stable and produceable and will lead to predictable schedules. I have great confidence in the Ingalls team to execute this program, and in our ongoing efforts with our partners to successfully expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base to meet the Navy’s needs.”

“Like the Medium Landing Ship, leveraging a complete design and production baseline approach will allow the Navy and shipbuilders to reduce costs, schedule and technical risk,” stated Adm. Daryl Caudle, 34th Chief of Naval Operations.

“We know this Frigate design works, we know it operates with the Fleet, and most importantly, we know how to build it now.”

Legend-class NSCs

Of the US Coast Guard’s white-hull patrol cutter fleet, the NSC is the largest and most technologically sophisticated in the coast guard. Each NSC is capable of operating in the most demanding open ocean environments.

The cutter measures approximately 127.4 meters in length, with a beam of about 16.5 meters and a draft of roughly 6.9 meters. With a full-load displacement of around 4,500 tonnes, the NSC is built for endurance and seakeeping rather than coastal operations. It can reach speeds of nearly 52 kilometers per hour (about 28 knots) and has an operational range of approximately 22,200 kilometers, allowing patrols of up to 90 days without resupply. This combination of size and range enables prolonged deployments far from US home ports.

The class is equipped with modern C5ISR architecture, integrating command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Each NSC is equipped with a flight deck and enclosed hangar capable of supporting manned helicopters and unmanned aerial systems, dramatically extending surveillance and response reach.

Currently, Ingalls is simultaneously building three classes of ships (DDG 51 Flight III, LHA, and LPD Flight II) and modernizing the Zumwalt-class of guided missile destroyers with technology upgrades including the incorporation of the conventional prompt strike weapons system.

The NSC Program began under the Deepwater Program as an eight-ship class intended to replace the aging endurance cutters. Ingalls supported the US Coast Guard for nearly two decades by building and delivering 10 Legend-class NCS.

The tenth NSC, Calhoun, was commissioned in April 2024.