The U.S. Navy's Constellation-Class Frigate Problem
© Provided by National Interest
The USS Constellation (FFG-62) frigate program is doing little to refurbish the U.S. Navy’s reputation for competence. Intended to deliver a flotilla of at least twenty small, hard-hitting surface combatants in reasonably short order at manageable cost, the program is 36 months—and counting—behind schedule. And over budget. And manufacturing the first hull without a complete design for it. This is not a good look—especially when compounded by the past two decades of shipbuilding travails.
And looks matter. Such self-inflicted troubles have direct diplomatic import, and not for the better. To gauge why, consider the frigate program through the eyes of antagonists, allies, and friendly powers the United States would like to woo. And look at it in relative terms. Relative to America’s rivals, chiefly China. In peacetime strategic competition, after all, influential audiences—allies, friends, prospective foes—judge which contestant would be the likely victor in wartime. Their subjective view prevails. The victor in the war for perceptions triumphs in peacetime competition.
People love a winner and scorn a loser.
If you were considering siding with the United States or China, which contender would you regard as the more impressive partner: the predominant seafaring state that seems unable to keep its fleet from dwindling in numbers, or the challenger with ten major surface combatants and three coastguard cutters under construction at a single shipyard and a fleet inventory on the upswing?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-u-s-navy-s-constellation-class-frigate-problem/ar-AA1p11yQ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9bee47d5daed457cbbcb35af75f1f706&ei=66
