Frigate will leverage LCS testing

The Navy’s new frigate design will go through the requirements-generation and testing process as an upgrade rather than a new-start program to save money and funds by focusing on changes from an upgraded Littoral Combat Ship program, says frigate program manager Capt. Dan Brintzinghoffer. The frigate is working its way through the Joint Requirements Oversight Council process to support the first two ships being bought in FY 2019. A Request For Proposal with detailed technical data is likely to go out in FY-17 to allow industry to prepare bids and giving the Navy about 18 months to finalize its design – with common combat systems, over-the-horizon radars and over-the-horizon missiles. (Source: USNI News 04/15/15) Gulf Coast Shipbuilding Note: Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., builds one of two LCS variants - the Independence class. Both variants have different combat systems.