Perry Class ELDC Refit

A proposed refit to the 12 CORT (COherent Receiver/Transmitter) upgraded Perry Class Frigates to support escort operations in blue and green water low to medium threat environments. These ships see the replacement of the aft Phalanx launcher with a Mk 49 RAM launcher, the removal of the forward Mk 13 GMLS and the conversion of the volume used by the magazine into bunking space for embarked security forces and or Marines. Above the old Mk 13 mount is a new Mk 56 VLS array for Evolved Sea Sparrow SAMs to provide an enhanced short range air defense capability. Also included is an automatic Mk 36 Machine Gun System to help deal with small, close in surface targets. A quartet of Harpoons is mounted ahead of the superstructure to provide the ship with some residual medium range anti-surface capability. The Mk 32 SVTT is moved forward to improve small boat handling capability and allow the use of two seven meter RHIBs and two USVs. All of these changes are made coincident with a SLEP of both the hull and major systems to allow the ships to continue to serve into the 2020s.

For those Perry Class Frigates that did not receive the CORT upgrade, a simpler version of the refit is conducted. In place of the forward Mk 56 VLS, a single Phalanx mount is included.

Note that ELDC stands for Enhanced Littoral Defensive Capability