Posted on 08/26/2018 4:41:14 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Huntington Ingalls Industries might beg to differ (this press release from a few years back):
HII has done a low-key pitch for a larger version of the National Security Cutter for the USN frigate competition.
Sumner class, built right after the Fletchers.
My general rule is that if you find something that you like that another country is building; save the big R&D money, have them create a U.S. company if they don’t already have one (many do) and build it here. Probably teamed with other U.S. companies. Saves time and lots of development dollars that can be used elsewhere.
At 27kn as its top speed (a sustainable speed or only for short bursts) can it keep up with the rest of the fleet doing over 30kn? Probably not ...
The Chinese, however, are building some very nice destroyers Type 055 (more in the cruiser class at 13,000mt loaded). 35 Knots top speed. $6B yuan or about US$938m
The most numerous series of destroyers probably ever built by any Navy anywhere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher-class_destroyer
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