The Navy has all but admitted that the Littoral Combat Ships are a flop. Therefore, they have started looking at potential ships to fulfill requirements for a new frigate design known as the FFG(X) Program. Make makes things interesting is that this time the US Navy is exploring foreign and domestic options. We have listed some of the strongest contenders in the list below.
Patrol Frigate (Huntington-Ingalls)
The Coast Guard’s Legend class cutter. This ship will serve as the basis for the Patrol Frigate design.
The Huntington-Ingalls patrol frigate is based on the existing Coast Guard Legend class cutter. Using an existing hull is expected to reduce development time and costs.
Two versions of the Patrol Frigate have been proposed the first is a more modest redesign intended to offer the most cost effective version. It essentially uses the current Legend class layout and weaponry. The only modifications are an improved crane and stern ramp.
The second version is a more thorough redesign with greater amounts of firepower. It replaces the 57mm main gun with a larger, more powerful 76mm gun. It also adds a twelve cell Mark 56 VLS. Eight harpoon anti-ship missiles are fitted for increased anti-surface firepower. Greater anti-submarine capabilities are gained through a towed sonar array and a torpedo launcher on the stern.
Patrol Frigate Specs
Length – 418′
Beam – 54′
Draft – 22.5′
Displacement – 4500 tons
Speed – 28+ knots
Range – 8000+ nmi
Compliment – 141
Armament:
1x 76mm gun
1x Phalanx 20mm CIWs or SeaRAM
12x Vertical launch cells
8x anti-ship missiles
3x torpedoes
4x .50 cal machine guns
Aircraft:
1x SH-60
MEKO 200 (Atlas North America / Blohm + Voss)
For the FFG(X) program, the United States is also looking at warships designed overseas. One of the contenders is the MEKO family of warships. Developed by the German company Blohm + Voss in the late 1970s, the MEKO family of warships have a proven record of success. The latest MEKO 200 design is being proposed for use in the United States Navy.
Due to the variety of MEKO designs, the specs for a US Navy Frigate are unclear. However, MEKO ships can carry up to a 5″ main gun, over a dozen vertical launch cells, harpoon missile launchers, and several CIWs mounts. A MEKO design will offer the US Navy more than enough firepower.
MEKO 200 Frigate Specs:
Length – 387′
Beam – 49′
Draft – 14′
Displacement – 3400 tons
Speed – 32 knots
Range – 6000nmi
Compliment – 220
Armament:
Up to 1x 5″ gun
Up to 3x CIWs
Over 16x vertical launch cells
8x anti-ship missiles
up to 6x torpedoes
Aircraft:
1x SH-60
F100 (Bath Iron Works / Navantia)
In service with the Spanish Navy, the F100 class frigates are powerful warships optimized for the air defense role. They are one of the few non-American ships fitted with the Aegis Combat System.
Compared to the other frigates currently being considered, the F100 design is one of the most well armed. They carry a forty-eight cell Mark 41 VLS in addition to eight anti-ship missile launchers. They carry a single 5″ gun and space to mount a single CIWs mount. They also carry four torpedo tubes and a towed sonar array for the anti-submarine role.
Its possible that Bath Iron Works and General Dynamics would handle production of a United States variant of the F100 design.
F100 Frigate Specs:
Length – 481′
Beam – 61′
Draft – 15.6′
Displacement – 5800 to 6200 tons
Speed – 28.5 knots
Range – 4500 nmi
Compliment – 250
Armament:
1x 5″ gun
1x CIWs
48x vertical launch cells
8x anti-ship missiles
4x torpedoes
Aircraft:
1x SH-60
FREMM (Marinette Marine / Fincantieri)
Rumor has it that the Fincantieri FREMM frigate design is especially attractive to the United States Congress. The FREMM frigates are currently in use by the French and Italian Navies. The frigates are available in a wide variety of configurations including anti-air, anti-submarine, and general purpose warfare variants.
Depending on the configuration, the FREMM frigates carry a combination of 5″ and 76mm guns. Up to thirty-two vertical launch cells can be fitted along with eight anti-ship missile launchers. Torpedoes and remote weapons stations are also fitted.
The United States appears to like this design as a US FREMM variant would likely be built by Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. Marinette Marine, a shipyard owned by Fincantieri, already produces Freedom class LCS. Marientte Marine would allow the US to produce these frigates domestically.
FREMM Frigate Specs:
Length – 466′ to 474′
Beam – 65′ to 66′
Draft – 16′ to 17′
Displacement – 6000 to 6700 tons
Speed – 27 to 30+ knots
Range – 6000 to 6800+ nmi
Compliment – 145 to 201
Armament:
Up to 1x 127mm gun + 1x 76mm gun
Up to 3x 25mm remote weapon stations
Up to 32x Vertical launch cells
8x anti-ship missiles
Up to 6x torpedoes
Aircraft:
Up to 2x SH-60
What do you think?
What frigate design do you think will best fill the needs of the United States Navy? Let us know in the comment section below. You can also answer via Facebook, twitter, or Google +. You can also discuss the new frigates on the Navy General Board Forums.
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