Back when a Frigate was a Frigate.
Hell, I've served on Destroyers in the 3200 ton range.
Now they approach 10,000 tons and cost a boatload of bucks.
That said, the DDG-51 class is arguably the most capable surface combatant ever built. They are worth every penny of the $1bil+ price tag. They just need a little help for routine, brown-water presence.
A formidable task force could be built of a single DDG-51 and 3-4 modern Frigates.
Modern being the key word.
Personally I like the National Security Frigate proposal by Ingalls. Great platform, EXCELLENT range and duration...just needs a few more VLS tubes and a bigger gun.
The Frigate design I showed is larger based on the hull of the Legend class.
t does not include an integrated mast, the AEGIS system or a 76mm+ gun. All of those drive up the cost substantially.
But is would include Mk-41, a less capable 3-D and 2-D search radar and data link for cooperative engagement.
The fact is now, the LCS is severally under armed in the ASuW role. If it goes into the littorals and runs up against corvettes and light frigates of our adversaries, which are armed well for ASuW, it will be in trouble. for example, the new Chines Type 56 vessels (which in the last two yeas they have built 20 of) which diplace around 1,500 tons, are armed with four very modern, very capable ASMs with over 120 km range, two 30mm auto cannons and a 100 mm naval gun. Their role? Littoral patrol.
Anyhow, IHMO, we should build 30 such frigates. We should also, as you indicate, built a good 30 very decent, very stealthy SSK (AI{ diesel electric subs). They would work very effectively as hunter killers in the littorals to clear them of our adversaries SSKs.
Right now, we are sending a much larger, 1.2 billion dollar SSN in to do that role...and in the littorals, with today’s modern, quiet, AIP diesel electrics, that is a very dangerous position to put one of our large fleet SSNs in.