(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard and Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding agreed to stop construction on what was set to be the last Legend-class national security cutter (NSC), USNI News reported.
The proposed USCGC Friedman (WMSL 760) was set to be the 11th in the line of the 4,600-ton cutters that are the service’s most capable surface vessel.
According to Ingalls, the company and the Coast Guard settled a contract dispute in late May over the construction of Friedman. The Coast Guard issued the contract for that cutter, along with USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759), as part of a $930 million contract option for the two ships.
While Calhoun was delivered in 2023, Friedman stalled sometime after Ingalls announced the official start of fabrication in 2021. At the time, the Coast Guard expected the ship to be delivered in 2024.
“The forecasted delays and setbacks were associated with a contract-related dispute. We worked collaboratively with the Coast Guard to reach a mutually acceptable resolution that supports and aligns with the Coast Guard’s overall cost-saving objectives,” Ingalls spokeswoman Kimberly Aguillard told USNI News. “In mutual agreement with the (Coast Guard), we have signed a contract modification that identifies an alternate strategy related to the sunsetting of the NSC program, which has already exceeded the original acquisition objective of eight ships. Rather than proceeding with construction of the eleventh ship of the NSC class, we have agreed to execute a plan that maximizes readiness of the existing NSC fleet, by supporting overall operational availability and capability of the first 10 NSCs in service.”
Ingalls declined to comment on the amount of work that had been completed on Friedman or the financial terms of the contract.
“Huntington Ingalls owed us this cutter over a year ago. As the Trump administration is revitalizing the U.S. Coast Guard through Force Design 2028, we need to be smart with the American taxpayer’s money,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a prepared statement. “This project was over time and over budget. Now the money can be redirected to ensuring the Coast Guard remains the finest, most-capable maritime service in the world. I would like to extend my thanks to Huntington Ingalls for negotiating in good faith.”
The statement said $260 million went back to the government and the Coast Guard would get $135 million in spare parts from Ingalls.
