[Mariner]

The Ingalls Patrol Frigate at 4,000+ tons...about the same price with a 12,000nm/60 day range is a far better option.

You can put Aegis and VLS on these and they carry the 76mm gun. That COULD be upgraded to the 5inch/62 cal gun carried by the Burkes.

It's ludricrous the USN is wedded to the LCS and I'm CERTAIN the Surface Warfare Officers now at sea would much rather have the Ingalls Frigate.

Certain.

[Jeff Head]

Lockheed also has a multi-mission surface combatant propposal of their Freedom LCS as well.

What we need is something to replace the Perrys, that can also fight in the litorals but not give up the Air, ASW, and ASuW capabilities that the LCS have to switch out to obtain at any given time.

In the US Naval Institute Proceedings for this month they had a great discussion about this and the proposal for a 4,500t FFG with the two Harpoon cannister launchers, an MK-41 VLS, a 76mm or 127mm gun, a couple of 25-40mm auto cannons for secondary guns, a RAM launcher (21 cell variety) and a hanger for a full sized Lamps III helo.

US NAVY 21ST CENTURY

Sweet looking FFG and something we should build in some numbers IMHO.

The Chinese are doing so and have already built 16 of the following in the last 6-7 years and are building more...as well as pumping out modern DDGs about as fast.

THE RISING SEA DRAGION IN ASIA - TYPE 054A FFG