[sukhoi-30mki]

BAE SYSTEMS

An infographic giving a basic overview of the Type 26 for the Royal Navy and its performance and capabilities.

[sukhoi-30mki]

More pix, video at link

[pepsi_junkie]

$800M for a frigate. Wow. Times change. Frigates were always the cheapo ships, not all that capable (as in they would do only one mission like anti-submarine warfare) but you could have lots and lots of them.

In the cost world, Carriers > Cruisers > Destroyers > Frigates. 15 years ago or so, a new destroyer was about $1B a I recall so $800M for a frigate seems almost like "why bother, just build some destroyers." But I suppose the cost for a destroyer is much higher now too.

[Reno89519]

Maybe buying a US-designed, US-built ship is more important than shopping for one on the international market?

[Rockingham]

The US Navy has long suffered from the NIH (Not Invented Here) Syndrome that leads to the rejection of foreign innovations and designs. The Type 26 is an excellent vessel that could well win the competition.

[agere_contra]

The US and UK have historically enjoyed great success collaborating on weapons of war.

For instance: the Sherman Firefly, the Mustang, automated decrypt of Lorentz and Enigma, and of course Radar.

That ease of collaboration is now recognised as one of the starkest differences between Allies and Axis in WWII.

Collaborating on a frigate might be another good example. The Type 26 is a fine vessel, but I think a US conversion to ship more multi-role missile slots is the way to go.

[DesertRhino]

Needs torpedoes. And no, we shouldn’t buy a damned thing from the Brits since their government and intel agencies were part of the 2016 coup attempt.

They better feel lucky we even drink tea.

[central_va]

Wow, the USA doesn’t design, engineer and build it’s own frigates and DD’s. We are in steep decline. Thanks Free Traitors™.

[Rashputin]

As large as all these are we should just order more Burke Class destroyers which should reduce the unit cost and we'd be getting a lot more capable ship.

JMHo