It’s an existing design that can be put into production for U.S. ships in a short period of time so why not? Why spend extra billions to reinvent the wheel?
“It’s an existing design that can be put into production for U.S. ships in a short period of time so why not?”
And it’s a great design as outfitted.
Diesels for transit, LM2500 turbines for operations.
MK45 5in gun.
Aegis with 48 VLS tubes and SPY-1 radar.
Hangar, fuel and weapons support for a helo and/or drones.
And I guess at a little more than half the size of a Burke DDG it’s about as small a Frigate as the Navy will settle for.
I just hope we can get them delivered 3 per year at under $1B per unit.
The US Navy ( or US shipyards)should build its own warships. That is a basic strategic thing and should require no explanation. This is an admission that globalism has pretty much hampered the USA’s ability to make warships in large numbers. This is without a doubt crosses a line. A show of pathetic weakness. The Chinese are laughing at us.