The Constellation-class Guided Missile Frigate is a new multi-mission, small surface combatant intended to operate in increasingly complex warfare environments requiring capability to conduct air warfare (AW); anti-submarine warfare (ASW); surface warfare (SUW); electronic warfare (EW)/information operations (IO); and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The ship is powered by a combined diesel-electric and gas turbine system, which employs two electric propulsion motors and a single gas turbine engine.
The key Navy standard warfare system elements to be fielded on board FFG 62 Constellation class include the following systems:
– AN/SPY-6 (FFG 62 Constellation class variant) Air Surveillance Radar
– Mk 41 Vertical Launch System with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles and Navy Standard Missiles
– Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile Launching System
– AN/SQQ-89(V)16 Undersea Warfare Combat System
– AN/SLQ-25 ‘NIXIE’ Acoustic Countermeasure System
– AN/SPS-73(V)18 Next Generation Surface Search Radar
– Mk 110 57-mm Gun (with Advanced Low-Cost Munitions Ordnance)
– Over-the-Horizon Weapon System
– MH-60R Seahawk helicopter
– MQ-8C Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle