Analyzing new frigate concept

WASHINGTON - Naval analysts expressed concern while testifying July 25 before the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee over aspects of the Navy’s new guided-missile frigate FFG(X) concept, and how it fits the plan to reach a 355-ship fleet. Analysts were asked by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) about the Navy’s Request For Information (RFI) released July 10 for the FFG(X), which “implies” single- or dual-mission capabilities. “I don’t think it moves us in the right direction”, said Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. “It opens up the aperture too much …” and needs to be able to perform all three warfare missions at the same time - anti-submarine, air defense, and surface. The Navy needs between 70-75 more small surface combatants (not 52), including Littoral Combat Ships, in its current plans, said Dr. Jerry Hendrix, senior fellow at the Center For A New American Security. It’s the third attempt in the last 15 years to “try and get right the issue of small surface combatant procurement,” said Ronald O’Rourke, naval specialist at the Congressional Research Service. The Navy’s failure to “do all the homework” at the start of the LCS program in 2000-03 “is a principal reason for many of the difficulties that the LCS program experienced.” For the price of one destroyer, the Navy could procure a couple of frigates or offshore patrol vessels by converting a Joint High-Speed Vessel and uploading it with missiles. Given the cost range, the Navy could roll up six small combatants for the price of one Arleigh Burke class (DDG-51) destroyer, said Hendrix. He suggested the Navy take a hard look at the Coast Guard’s national security cutter (NSC) or FREMM frigate used by France and Italy. (Source: Seapower Magazine 07/26/17) Gulf Coast Note: In September 2016, the Coast Guard announced it awarded a contract for building up to nine ships in the NSC class to Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla. The Independence variant of the LCS is built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.