Future ships will have Flight III system

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Navy’s vision for its future large surface combatant designs still remain undecided, but it almost certainly will operate with the DDG-51 Flight III’s combat system, according to Rear Adm. William Galinis, Program Executive Officer for Ships. The PEO and surface warfare directorate are “still in the very early stages of concept development” on the large combatant piece of the Future Surface Combatant family of systems, but the “initial concepts start with the DDG-51 Flight III combat system,” he said, which will likely bring a new hull, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and a new power architecture to support the combat system. The Future Surface Combatant program will include a large combatant – such as a cruiser or destroyer, though the Navy is careful not to use those specific labels – a small combatant to replace Littoral Combat Ships and frigates, an unmanned surface ship, and an optionally unmanned ship. PEOS will oversee the development and acquisition of the large combatant. PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants (formerly PEO LCS) will handle the other three. The Future Surface Combatant initial capabilities document is pending Joint Staff approval. (Source: USNI News 07/11/18) Gulf Coast Note: One of the LCS variants is built by Austal USA shipyard of Mobile, Ala.