According to information published by the US DoD on June 29, 2023, the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) has announced the name of the future Constellation-class guided-missile frigate as the USS Lafayette, in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, a significant figure from the American Revolutionary War.
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Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro during the announcement at the US embassy in Paris. (Picture source: US DoD)
Three prior Navy vessels carried the name Lafayette, including an ironclad ram, a transport ship, and a ballistic missile submarine. The new USS Lafayette will be the fourth ship in the Constellation-class frigates, with a planned commissioning in 2029. Its sister ships are the USS Constellation, USS Congress, and USS Chesapeake.
These new ships, including the USS Lafayette, bring improved lethality, survivability, and various capabilities required for worldwide operations with our partners and allies.
The Constellation-class frigate represents the Navy's next-gen small surface combatant, ready for both blue-water and littoral operations. This ship class provides a military advantage at sea with its combat-credible forward presence.
Equipped for air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations, the Constellation-class vessels feature an air surveillance radar, the Baseline Ten Aegis combat system, a Mk 41 vertical launch system, and communications systems. They also possess enhanced electronic warfare and information operations capabilities, with room for future growth.
French-US relations
France and the United States have a strong military partnership, characterized by active cooperation and mutual support. They work together in various areas, including counterterrorism efforts in the Levant and the Sahel region, enhancing deterrence and defense in Europe, and sharing operational intelligence. The two countries also collaborate in cyber and space domains, as well as in nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological defense.
However, it's worth noting that the announcement of the AUKUS security pact, which involves the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, has created some tensions in French-US military relations.
