HII Says Frigate On Schedule To Be In Water By 2028 If Contract By Early FY ’27

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) says it remains on schedule to put the first U.S. Navy FF(X) frigate in the water by the end of 2028, provided the company secures the next required contract in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. CEO Chris Kastner made the conditional projection during HII's October 29 earnings call, saying suppliers were on schedule and some components were already in production. The design is based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter. HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding had already received a $282.9 million lead-yard support contract in April 2026, covering design, long-lead materials and preconstruction work; the latest remarks do not announce a new full shipbuilding award or guarantee an operational frigate in 2028.