When I see that the Brahmos SSM style (mach 2,8) will be the "world-rule" in the next 5 years (late 2010s).
And event the Brahmos-II style (mach 5/7) will be "the rule" by late 2020s.
It is obvious that the hypersonic+++ missiles (mach 7/10) will become "the rule" in the 2030s
I laugh when you continue to tell me about the subsonic Harpoon in the future
Think supersonic/hypersonic SSM missile in VLS !!!
The I wonder why Kongsberg produced the only existing next gen. missile to date that can out think and defend it self and attack by it self, while it's flying subsonic, and can only be launched from canister, even when Kongsberg had the chance to produce an VLS variant. while Brahmos is fast you can see it, but you have an reduced chance to defend against it due to that speed. The NSM "You'll never know what hit you!" you can see it, you get local Jammed (so no communication in and out to that vessel), the NSM can also chose where, how and what to attack. Thanks to it's uniqe ability to see what it's doing. (It's almost like it is self-thinking) but after you'r conclusion that missile is so 80's!
my design is all about being cheep but also give a ship that can handle the situation it's designed for. so no laser, and only what in store equipment. no fancy thing.
So:
- Radars, USA have that in store from cannibalizing older ship.
- Harpoon, USA have that in store from cannibalizing older ship.
- gun, USA have that in store from cannibalizing older ship.
- Communication, USA have that in store from cannibalizing older ship.
- Tomahawk, if they have in store....
- illumination, - Communication, USA have that in store from cannibalizing older ship.
- small boat solution, Every time USA had the chance to build their small boat in, they didn't. so I am not going to do that. (Remember USA is backseat and front seat moderator, while Europa, take the best of both world.... because we can!)
compare that to you'r suggestion. which one will give most value for the money. mine with a ship with old equipment that are still good and can easily be updated to better version, like: Harpoon, radar, illumination, communication, etc. with my vessel you already have every thing in store, and can fast produce many frigate in short period. I think I could build up to 15/30% more ships than you could do with you'r requirement. that give me an 57 to 65 to you'r 50 ship's (yes you can outperform when it come to radar, but i can swarm you'r vessels.(sounds like Soviet during WW2!))
or we can do it you'r way:
- next gen. radar. ship's under production have to wait to those radar are produced. (are also very expensive, they will also be way to heavy (not to heavy but to much weight at same area on the ship))
- laser, ship's under production have to wait to those radar are produced. (are also very expensive)
- next gen. missiles. ship's under production have to wait to those radar are produced. (well... how know!)
you get a new ship with expensive equipment, and many of them might not be finish produced when the ship is launched. just like the Norwegian frigate:
- 4/5 got only one single 16 cell MK-41 VLS. (there wasn't produced enough VLS for Norway at the time) 1/5 frigate got 32 cell MK-41 VLS.
- 1/5 got full radar and communication suit. 4/5 have reduced communication suit. wasn't ready (apparently the company was overbooked!)
- CIWS none of them got any since the required CIWS wasn't ready.
Norway chosen to have their RHIB on deck out of experience, many nation that have visited Norway have experienced problem with launching there RHIB in cold extreme weather. This is something and US frigate must be able to do.
I know that you know, after seen all those hundreds of drawing I have done here in SB that I know when to draw a ship totally advance with the latest in tec. but also when not to. an this is about a vessel that is cheep.