The Department of Homeland Security cancelled the stalled production of a 11th Legend-class National Security Cutter for the Coast Guard, citing a year-long delay in shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls’ projected completion date and cost overruns.
The cut will save $260 million while redirecting resources to other priority shipbuilding projects, likely the Polar Security Cutter program to replace the Coast’s Guard two aging icebreakers, and the Offshore Patrol Cutter.
Construction began in 2021 on the planned Coast Guard cutter Friedman and was to be completed in 2024, as the 11th in the class of 418’x54’, 4,500-ton vessels. Originally hailed by Coast Guard officials as “the largest and most technologically sophisticated” design in the fleet, the class has faced problems with spare parts supply.
“Huntington Ingalls owed us this cutter over a year ago,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in announcing the decision. “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.”
“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 production problems and delays with the cutter led to lengthy negotiations between the shipbuilder and Coast Guard. As part of the settlement the Coast Guard “will receive $135 million in parts that will be used to retrofit, upgrade, and maintain the Coast Guard’s existing fleet of 10 Legend-class cutters,” according to Homeland Security officials.
“The forecasted delays and setbacks were associated with a contract related dispute,” according to Kimberly Aguillard, spokesperson for HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding. “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 Shipbuilding built the Legend-class cutters for more than 20 years “and we remain proud of the work our shipbuilders have accomplished to deliver 10 NSCs in support of our country’s maritime security,” exceeding the original acquisition objective of eight ships, said Aguillard.
“Rather than proceeding with construction of the eleventh ship of the NSC class (NSC 11), 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 ten NSCs in service. We remain grateful for our partnership with the USCG and are committed to supporting their mission.”
