US Combat Ship Decision Coming in 'Very Near Future'

[Harald]

First Constellation-Class Frigate Set For August Keel Laying


"American FREMM" - Scale model of the future USS Constellation (FFG 62) on Fincantieri booth at Sea Air Space 2023

Fincantieri confirmed to Naval News during Sea Air Space 2023 that the keel laying ceremony for the future USS Constellation is ?projected for August 2023?.

Three ships of the class have been awarded to Fincantieri: The Constellation (FFG 62) in 2020, the Congress (FFG 63) in 2021, and the Chesapeake (FFG 64) in 2022. A contract for construction of the fourth ship-in-class, the yet to be named FFG 65, is expected sometime this year.

The future USS Constellation (FFG 62) is the lead ship of the US Navy?s newest class of warships. Construction of the first-in-class ship is underway. The shipyard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine officially began construction of the first Constellation-class frigate last summer. The shipyard which used to produce Freedom type LCS, and is about to launch the last and final one on Saturday, went through an extensive upgrade of its facilities to support the frigate program. These capital Improvements at the yard are set to be completed in 2023.

In a recent social media post, the shipbuilder explained that it is already planning for the future:

This new acquisition program is changing things up by prioritizing the sustainment of these ships. Here are some key points:

- The USS Constellation is being built by Fincantieri, using several cost-saving measures to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
- Unlike previous ships, the Constellation will be built to 90% completion before transferring into the water, saving time and providing better access to the ship.
- The Constellation-class frigates will be used for various operations, including anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, electromagnetic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

It?s clear that Fincantieri is taking a strategic and innovative approach to building and maintaining these new ships. We can?t wait to see what they accomplish with the Constellation-class frigates!

During a NAVSEA briefing on the program during Sea Air Space 2023, Capt. Kevin Smith, FFG 62 Program Manager, explained the US Navy is still working through a timeline to meet a congressional mandate to add Standard Missile 6 and the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to future Constellation-class guided-missile frigates.

The FFG 62 class is based off the Italian Navy variant of the FREMM multi-mission Frigate.

[Huzaar1]

Volgens mij kunnen die dingen het beste gewoon allemaal zinken in een grote boze storm van Zwarte Zee formaat. Zijn niet gebouwd voor een aankomende oorlog en slokken capaciteit, funds en planningsgroepen die aan 'doelvinding' doen voor deze dingen.

[Harald]

Zumwalt Destroyers' 155mm AGSs' Removal Fates Undetermined  ( geen kanonnen, maar VLSen )
The U.S. Navy has confirmed that the three stealthy DDG 1000 Zumwalt destroyers' inactive and never-fired 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) will be removed for the installation of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile vertical launch tubes in their places. But what is unknown is what will become of the AGSs, two per tumblehome destroyer, once they are removed. Naval News asked the U.S. Navy and received a reply.
Peter Ong  25 Apr 2022

The U.S. Navy's Chief of Information (CHINFO) department replied to Naval News in mid-April 2022.  Naval News asked CHINFO if the three Zumwalt class destroyers' 155mm Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) will be:

Dismantled, saved and stored in a Navy warehouse for possible future use in another new class of ship.
Dismantled, saved and stored at the manufacturer's location for possible future AGS modifications and upgrades.
Dismantled and stored by the U.S. Navy for future scrapping and destruction.
Dismantled and destroyed in the removal process for Hypersonic missiles.

Lt. Lewis Aldridge, CHINFO News Desk Officer, replied via email;

"The Navy plans to remove the two Advanced Gun System (AGS) mounts. Disposition plan to be determined."

— U.S. Navy CHINFO, April 2022

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/04/zumwalt-destroyers-155mm-agss-removal-fates-undetermined/

[Huzaar1]

Nu nog even wakker worden m.b.t. carriers.

[Harald]

Amerika wil kruisers schrappen, China bouwt nieuwe

Begin dit jaar schreven we reeds over de Amerikaanse plannen om zeven van de 22 kruisers van de Ticonderogaklasse in 2022 uit dienst te nemen. Verdere debatten binnen de Amerikaanse marineleiding spreken nu van de doelstelling om de ganse kruiservloot tegen 2027 uit dienst te nemen. Deze plannen zullen naar alle waarschijnlijkheid fel betwist worden binnen het Amerikaanse Congres, maar de richting waarin de Amerikaanse marine zich wenst te bewegen is duidelijk en de kruisers van de Ticonderogaklasse spelen hierin geen rol meer in.

.../...

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Amerika-wil-kruisers-schrappen-China-bouwt-nieuwe-250422.html

[Harald]

A second FFG-62 shipyard? Fincantieri 'can meet demand' for now

Shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine "can meet the demand" of the Constellation-class frigate program for the time being, but the Navy still deciding whether to select a second contractor for the 20-ship class, according to the service's program manager.

Capt. Kevin Smith told attendees at the Sea Air Space exposition on Tuesday that when the time is right, the Navy plans to purchase the ship's technical data package from Fincantieri and begin to qualify alternate shipyards so that the program office is ready to move forward if senior leadership chooses. A ship's technical data package is essentially a set of blueprints that the government would need to provide an alternative contractor so they, too, could build the ships.

The Navy took care to ensure its contract with Fincantieri for the Constellation-class included the rights for the government to purchase the technical data package.

At a basic level, the biggest incentive the Navy has to establish a second shipyard is that it increases the number of ships it can produce each year and also adds a level of stability to the supply chain: If production at one shipyard stops for any reason, then the other will still be working.

..../.....

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/a-second-ffg-62-shipyard-fincantieri-can-meet-demand-for-now/

[Harald]

U.S. Navy's Future Large Scale Combatant Force-Level Goals

The U.S. Navy's Large Surface Combatant (LSC) force consists of three destroyers: DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that are still in production with Flight III version upgrades just starting, stealthy DDG 1000 Zumwalt destroyers in which production stopped at three ships, and the upcoming next-generation destroyer program called DDG(X) that is still in the design stage.

.../....





.../....

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/03/u-s-navys-future-large-scale-combatant-force-level-goals/

[Harald]

U.S. Navy CNO Says Light Destroyers Are Possible In Future Fleet

At the WEST 2022 Conference in San Diego, held mid-February, the U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday said that he would like a future naval force of over 500 manned and unmanned ships. The 500-ship count will include 12 carriers, nine L-class "Big deck" amphibious carriers, 19-20 amphibious assault ships, about 60 destroyers, 50 frigates, 70 attack submarines, 12 ballistic missile submarines, 30 Light Amphibious Warships, the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), 100 support ships, and 150 unmanned vessels. However, Naval News asked a question beforehand in mid-January at the Surface Navy Association 2022 that might alter these numbers and ship types.

..../...

At the Surface Navy Association Symposium 2022, held mid-January 2022, Naval News asked U.S. Navy CNO Michael Gilday an unusual question at the very end of his presentation: Why build new frigates if a new cheaper, lighter, and less-capable Aegis destroyer class might suffice for future challenges better than a frigate?

"...So we want to buy both, okay? (`You wanna buy both?' asked the moderator). We're optimizing the capacity [of] the industrial base.  I'd love to be able buy as many ships as they can generate, but it's got to be a navy we can afford, right? So that has always been my message with respect to Readiness and modernization and capacity. It's going to be a navy that we can sustain."             

U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Michael Gilday

..../.....

But why are mini (or light) destroyers important compared to a frigate?  The answer is simple...a destroyer is not a frigate because the destroyer is classified as having better systems, armament, performance, capacity and capabilities than a frigate.  Even a light destroyer has systems above that of a frigate, meaning the Constellation-class frigate will not match the performance and specifications of a mini-destroyer.

..../....

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/03/u-s-navy-cno-says-light-destroyers-are-possible-in-future-fleet/

[Harald]

US Navy Looks Again At VDS Options For New Frigate

The U.S. Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) this week issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) System for the future Constellation-class frigate.

..../.....

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/us-navy-looks-again-at-vds-options-for-new-frigate/

[Harald]

US Navy should view space, power margins as a 'warfighting capability' worth paying for

As the U.S. Navy works through the detail design of its Constellation-class frigate and the concept design of its DDG(X) destroyer, the service wants to add all the latest offensive and defensive systems.

But at least as important, leaders say, is leaving room for new systems down the road.

Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, the director of surface warfare on the chief of naval operations' staff (OPNAV N96), said last month that a fight against an adversary like China would be "a missile-to-missile game" and that the U.S. Navy's current destroyers lack the magazine depth for that kind of battle.

The Navy is considering innovative ways to maximize the effectiveness of the limited vertical launching system cells on a ship, he said, but the real difference-maker will be fielding directed-energy weapons that give a ship as many shots for which it can generate electrical power.

..../.....

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2022/02/08/us-navy-should-view-space-power-margins-as-a-warfighting-capability-worth-paying-for/

[Harald]

US Navy plans to buy two destroyers annually while developing DDG(X)

According to a tweet published by GDBIW on February 4, 2022, the U.S. Navy stated it's committed to buying two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers per year as it transitions to DDG(X).


Artist rendering of the DDG(X)

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is a multi-mission combatant that offers defense against a wide range of threats, including ballistic missiles. It operates in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups, providing a complete array of anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers combine the AEGIS combat system, the Vertical Launching System, an advanced ASW system, two embarked SH-60 helicopters, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk anti-ship and land-attack missiles. Designed for survivability, the ships incorporate all-steel construction and gas turbine propulsion.

The Flight III upgrades include a more powerful missile defense radar, increased shipboard power production and hull enhancements.

The DDG(X) program, also known as the Next-Generation Guided-Missile Destroyer program, is a United States Navy program to develop a class of surface combatant vessels.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2022/february/11356-us-navy-plans-to-buy-two-destroyers-annually-while-developing-ddg-x.html

[Harald]

U.S. Navy's Constellation-class Frigate VLS Cell Count Debate Settled   ( in dit artikel worden wel erg interessante zaken beschreven !)

Defense Media, think tanks, critics, skeptics, and naval commentators have stated that the new U.S. Navy's FFG-62 Constellation-class frigates, the replacement to the venerable Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, should have 48 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells compared to the required 32 cells.

These commentators state that with the retirement of aging AEGIS-radar equipped cruisers and destroyers, the U.S. Navy will have a shortage of VLS cells to counter peer nation threats and that more missile firepower via more VLS cells per new frigate is required.


The Congressional Research Services' (CRS) updated 19 October 2021 FFG-62 frigate report stated that:

"The Navy began procuring Constellation (FFG-62) class frigates (FFGs) in FY2020, and wants to procure a total of 20 FFG-62s. Congress funded the first FFG-62 in FY2020 at a cost of $1,281.2 million (i.e., about $1.3 billion) and the second in FY2021 at a cost of $1,053.1 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion). The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $1,087.9 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion) for the procurement of the third FFG-62, and $69.1 million in advance procurement (AP) funding for the fourth and fifth FFG-62s, which are programmed for procurement in one or more future fiscal years."

By comparison, the CRS released a DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer report the same day (19 October 2021) that stated the cost of the DDG-51:

"When procured at a rate of two per year, DDG-51s cost roughly $2.0 billion each. Due to the reduced production economies of scale that would occur at a production rate of one ship per year, the one DDG-51 requested for procurement in FY2022 has an estimated cost of $2,401.7 million (i.e., about $2.4 billion)."

The DDG-51 Flight I and II have 90 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells per destroyer while the Flight IIA and Flight III Arleigh Burkes have 96 VLS cells.  The FFG-62 Constellation-class frigate with 32 VLS cells has roughly half the Mark 41 missile firepower of an early DDG-51, not including the frigate's separate 16 Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers amidships. Therefore, one can argue that a FFG-62 frigate has 48 long-range missiles when the 16 NSM are included.

Nonetheless, the online debate revolved around the actual Mark 41 VLS cell count, not the number of other potential missile launchers aboard the FFG-62 (such as the Mark 49 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher and the 16 NSM launchers).

The CRS's October 2021 FFG-62 frigate report provided the U.S. Navy's answer and the deciding evidence on settling for 32 VLS cells per new frigate instead of the suggested 48.

"Another potential aspect of this issue concerns the planned number of Vertical Launch System (VLS) missile tubes on FFG-62s. The VLS is the FFG-62's principal (though not only) means of storing and launching missiles. FFG-62s are to each be equipped with 32 Mark 41 VLS tubes. (The Mark 41 is the Navy's standard VLS design.)

"Supporters of requiring each FFG-62 to be equipped with a larger number of VLS tubes, such as 48, might argue that FFG-62s are to be roughly three-quarters as large, and at least half as expensive to procure, as DDG-51s, and might therefore be more appropriately equipped with at least 48 VLS tubes, which is one-half the number on recent DDG-51s. They might also argue that in a context of renewed great power competition with potential adversaries such as China, which is steadily improving its naval capabilities, it might be prudent to equip each FFG-62 with 48 rather than 32 VLS tubes each, and that doing so might only marginally increase FFG-62 unit procurement costs. They might also argue that equipping each FFG-62 with 48 rather than 32 VLS tubes will permit the Navy to more fully offset a substantial reduction in VLS tubes that the Navy's surface fleet is projected to experience when the Navy's 22 Ticonderoga (CG-47) class cruisers, which are each equipped with 122 VLS tubes, are retired, and provide a hedge against the possibility that Navy plans to field VLS tubes on Large Unmanned Surface Vehicles (LUSVs) will be slowed or curtailed for technical or other reasons.

"Supporters of having each FFG-62 be equipped with 32 VLS tubes might argue that the analyses indicating a need for 32 VLS tubes already took improving adversary capabilities (as well as other U.S. Navy capabilities) into account. They might also argue that FFG-62s, in addition to having 32 VLS tubes, will also to have separate, deck-mounted box launchers for launching 16 anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as a separate, 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) AAW missile launcher; that the Navy is moving ahead with its plan to deploy additional VLS tubes on LUSVs, which are to act as adjunct weapon magazines for the Navy's manned surface combatants; and that increasing the number of VLS tubes on each FFG-62 from 32 to 48 would increase (even if only marginally) the procurement cost of a ship that is intended to be an affordable supplement to the Navy's cruisers and destroyers.

"A May 14, 2019, Navy information paper on expanding the cost impact of expanding the FFG-62 VLS capacity from 32 cells to 48 cells states:

`To grow from a 32 Cell VLS to a 48 Cell VLS necessitates an increase in the length of the ship with a small beam increase and roughly a 200-ton increase in full load displacement. This will require a resizing of the ship, readdressing stability and seakeeping analyses, and adapting ship services to accommodate the additional 16 VLS cells.

A change of this nature would unnecessarily delay detail design by causing significant disruption to ship designs. Particularly the smaller ship designs. Potential competitors have already completed their Conceptual Designs and are entering the Detail Design and Construction competition with ship designs set to accommodate 32 cells.

The cost is estimated to increase between $16M [million] and $24M [million] per ship. This includes ship impacts and additional VLS cells.'

"Compared to an FFG-62 follow-on ship unit procurement cost of about $900 million, the above estimated increase of $16 million to $24 million would equate to an increase in unit procurement cost of about 1.8% to about 2.7%."

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/u-s-navys-constellation-class-frigate-vls-cell-count-debate-settled/?nowprocket=1

[ARM-WAP]

Dan heb je straks een fregat van 7500 ton met een proppenschieter. Met 57mm kun je nog geen deuk in een pakje boter slaan.

Die 57 mm is niet niets.
Er zijn voor hun marine meerdere redenen om voor dit kaliber te kiezen:
- hun Coast Guard heeft deze als standaard main gun op hun nieuwe cutters,
- de navy heeft ze op hun LCS-klasses,
- de 76 mm is uitgefaseerd,
- Lethality – The projectile section delivers over 8,000 pre-formed tungsten fragments in reaction to 420 grams of PBX-explosive.
- Each Mk 442 Mod 0 3P fuze is programmed to one of six settable function modes immediately before firing:
Time, Impact, Armour piercing, Gated proximity, Gated prox. with impact priority, Conventional proximity
(die twee laatste komen van BAE datasheet file:///C:/Users/mverschaeve/Downloads/baes_ds_201502_57-mm%20Mk%20295%203P-HE%20Fuzed%20Cartridge_redesign_digital.pdf

Het "pakje boter" bestaat voor hen dus vooral uit kleinere doelen, op relatief korte tot middellange (boord-artillerie) afstand: de drones (op en boven water), de zelfmoordbootjes, heli's... en daarin gaat die 57 mm mss geen deuken slaan maar vooral zeer veel kleine gaatjes perforeren.

Die schepen gaan nooit gebruikt worden voor landbombardementen - daarvoor hebben ze de Burkes en de in aantal slinkende Tico's... en, natuurlijk, land attack missiles.

[Ace1]

Navy Selects BAE's 57mm Mk110 Gun for Constellation-Class Frigates

https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-selects-baes-57mm-mk110-gun-for-constellation-class-frigates/

Dan heb je straks een fregat van 7500 ton met een proppenschieter. Met 57mm kun je nog geen deuk in een pakje boter slaan.

[Sparkplug]

Navy Selects BAE's 57mm Mk110 Gun for Constellation-Class Frigates

https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-selects-baes-57mm-mk110-gun-for-constellation-class-frigates/