I applauded the Navy’s decision to terminate the
Constellation program and still do. I
also, initially, viewed the decision to build a NSC-frigate as a poor choice
but one that had some slight potential to produce a useful vessel if certain
constraints and discipline could be applied such as a rigorous CONOPS and an
obsessive fixation on a single mission, presumably ASW..
Sadly, the program is already doomed. The vessel will,
apparently, have almost no weapons or useful sensors and no mission focus, whatsoever.
The initial NSC “frigate” will have 1x 57mm gun and 1x RAM
mount.[1] That’s it for weapons. Nothing else.
That’s not a frigate. That’s
barely even a patrol boat and is hideously oversized, overpriced, and
overmanned for that level of firepower.
The initial NSC “frigate” will NOT have a 5” gun,
VLS, anti-ship missiles, strike missiles, ASW sonar, towed array,
anti-submarine torpedoes, or CIWS.[2]
What it doesn’t have is far more impressive than what it does have.
Looking at the equipment list (or lack thereof) one can’t
help but wonder, in stunned disbelief, what the purpose of the ship is? What is the mission? It barely qualifies as a patrol boat. What is the Navy going to do with it?
It sounds like we’re just going to be building Coast Guard
cutters and not even good ones.
I know the Navy is incapable of learning lessons but after
decades of hitting themselves in the head with a hammer wouldn’t you think
they’d at least stop just to make the pain go away? I guess not.
They’ve just picked up a new hammer and immediately started whacking
themselves in the head again.
Enjoy the pain, Navy!
What a bunch of morons. Good
work, SecDef, SecNav, and CNO!
https://www.twz.com/sea/navys-new-frigate-will-not-have-vertical-launch-systems-for-missiles
https://news.usni.org/2025/12/19/secnav-new-frigate-will-be-based-on-national-security-cutter-first-ffx-to-be-built-at-ingalls
Maybe they just need to get one in the water fast that's painted grey. Then the next one is really a navy ship with armament and sensors and they repaint the first one white..... One could hope.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the Navy has been burned so many times and so badly by the last several shipbuilding programs, and Congress is so mad about it, that the Navy is now so gun shy that they just want a hull, any hull, in the water quickly and with no major problems. The combat usefulness is no longer even a concern.
DeleteThink you right, BA. My guess is the want to restart the production line as fast as possible so pretty much means, no changes or very little changes to the regular Coast Guard version and switch to a new FLIGHT 1.0 or 2.0 with some weapons and some ASW gear, I mean, USN can only blame itself for where they are right now.....
Delete"The initial NSC “frigate” will NOT have a 5” gun, VLS, anti-ship missiles, strike missiles, ASW sonar, towed array, anti-submarine torpedoes, or CIWS.[2]"
ReplyDeleteMinor quibble. I completely agree with your general thrust that the ship is grotesquely under-armed for a frigate. However, I'm not so sure about the "no anti-ship or strike missiles" thing. There are a couple sentences in the reference that (somewhat ambiguously) talk about only minor modifications. On the other hand, the artist's conception in the reference (as well as in previous articles I've seen) does appear to include what look like missile launchers on the fantail where the boat launching ramp used to be.
"On the other hand, the artist's conception"
DeleteThe artist's conception is intended to be the best possible version of the vessel. Everything I've read states that a platform will be constructed over the stern to POSSIBLY accommodate some sort of container for missiles but not initially.