Navy hosts FFG(X) industry day

The Navy held an industry day for those companies interested in participating in the future guided-missile FFG(X) frigate program. FFG(X) is the Navy’s newest iteration of the small surface combatant program, initially filled by the Littoral Combat Ship and followed up with the LCS-based up-gunned and armored frigate (FF). According to industry-day slides, obtained by USNI News, companies have until Aug. 24 to respond to the Navy’s Request For Information (RFI) of two weeks ago. The Navy will then enter a conceptual design phase to help take existing ship designs and modifying them to meet requirements. The Request For Proposals (RFP) conceptual design contracts are to be awarded in CY 2018, ahead of an FY 2020 detail design and construction contract. The industry-day slides indicated that the RFI was meant to help the Navy “understand industry’s parent designs” and ability to integrate the multi-warfare system elements (anti-submarine and surface warfare) and requirements for their FFG(X) designs; and information on recurring and non-recurring engineering, production scheduling, and operations and support costs ahead of making certain decisions. The RFI clearly outlines the ASW and SW warfare capabilities for the FFG(X); and was less clear on the anti-air warfare capabilities. (Source: USNI News 07/27/17) Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA shipyards of Mobile, Ala., build the Independence variant of the Littoral Combat Ship, and may be among the serious contenders for designing and building FFG(X).