I ranted, for years, on the Fool, about the Billions the government spends on "development", with little, or nothing, actually built for deployment, before the program is cancelled, and a new "development" program started. We saw that with the F-22, B-2, Zumwalt class Destroyer, the LCS, a new Presidential helo fleet, on and on and on.

Here we go again.

Navy Scraps Plans for Troubled Warship Design

The cancellation spells the end of a planned Constellation-class frigate program that the Navy first ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in 2020. Officials said the contractor will continue work on two ships already under construction, and drop plans for four others to free up space for vessels that can be more quickly designed and assembled.

msn.com - Navy scraps plans for troubled warship design

That last bit is a howler "vessels that can be more quickly designed and assembled". US military procurement doesn't actually built anything "quickly". The Connies were based on an existing design used successfully by several NATO navies. Then the US got it's mitts on it, and it's another cluster. The Presidential helos Lockheed was building were based on a successful European design used successfully by other NATO countries. Then Lockheed hot it's mitts on it, and it was another cluster. Billions for "development", nothing for deployment.

The Perry class Frigates were a tough, effective, design. They have all been worn out. The LCS can't really do the job of a frigate, and the LCS program is done anyway. The Connies were supposed to be a real frigate, but, another abortion. The USN has no frigates, so they need to use Burke class DDs, to perform frigate missions. Good for the yards that build Burkes. Lots of lovely money for them.

Steve