The LCS is, in reality, what the Perrys were turned into when their Mk13 Standard/Harpoon missile launchers were removed: small helicopter carriers with an ok defensive capability for very low threat areas. Only the LCS’s are somewhat faster.
To be frank, an LCS would eat a Fletcher or a DE alive. Because the Fletcher/DE could only reach out as far as it’s 5” or 3” guns. An LCS can reach outcas far as it’s MH-60Rs with their Mavericks, Penguins (I think these are still in inventory) and Hellfires.
I like the concept of having an LCS type ship in the fleet ... It saves you from having to send a Burke class DDG to handle Somali pirates, for instance. Those SEALs that rescued the container ship captain a few years back using sniper rifles could just as easily taken their killing shots from the helo deck of an LCS as from the Burke they were actually on.
The problem with the LCS is it’s cost. It’s not the cheap streetfighter it was supposed to be. The truth is that we could have license built those neat Swedish corvettes and gotten much better return on our investment ...
“The truth is that we could have license built those neat Swedish corvettes and gotten much better return on our investment ...”
It’s unlikely Congress would authorize spending money on a Swedish design if an absurdly expensive American alternative can overrun its budget in a Congressman’s state.