Pentagon budget 2027: US Navy proposes funding for new surface combatants

The FFX frigate replacement is based on the US Coast Guard Legend-class National Security Cutter, like WMSL 757 Midgett, shown here. (Chris Sattler)

The Pentagon's proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget includes funding for two new surface combatants that the US Navy (USN) leadership says will anchor its future force: frigate replacement (FFX) vessels and proposed new Trump-class battleships (BBG(X)s).

The FY 2027 request includes about USD1.4 billion for an FFX ship and another USD1 billion in advance procurement funding for the BBG(X).

The FFX small surface combatant is replacing the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate (FFG) programme, which the USN cancelled in December 2025 due to concerns over construction delays and cost increases.

The FFX design is based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) being built by HII for the US Coast Guard.

The USN selected HII to build a class of smaller combatant ships (FFX), “as a critical component of the navy's fleet of the future. The FFX will be a smaller, more agile surface combatant designed to complement the fleet's larger, multimission warships”, the USN said in 19 December 2025 statement.

HII should be able to launch the FFX by 2028, Chris Kastner, HII CEO, told reporters on 8 January 2026.

Kastner acknowledged HII may need to “implement some navy design parameters” to modify the NSC design for FFX requirements, adding, “but it won't change the fundamental construction of the ship.”