Surface Forces: Prefab Constellation-Class
freestar
January 23, 2023: The new American Constellation-class frigates are being built in the United States by Fincantieri, a successful Italian manufacturer of prefabricated ships. Constellations use the Franco-Italian FREMM design which makes use of many prefabricated sections of the ships to speed construction and reduce costs. The United States has been using this technique for over a century, including the construction of 150 destroyers during and after World War I, 2,700 Liberty Ships (cargo ships) and more recently nuclear submarines and frigates. Fincantieri has experience using prefab sections to build cruise ships. China and South Korea, two of the largest shipbuilders in the world, use prefab techniques for their commercial ships and naturally do the same for their war ships. As a result, they can build their warships much faster than the United States. Having a much larger number of skilled workers and shipyards also plays a role as well.
Constellation-class ships displace 7,300 tons and are the sixth warship class to use the FREMM design techniques. The first FREMM type ship entered service in 2012 and 41 were built or on order before the order for twenty American Constellations came along. The first Constellation enters service in 2026.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20230123.aspx
