US Navy considers a more powerful frigate

[jhungary]

I like the MEKO 200AN design as well as the MEKO A-400 RAN.

There are someone within RAN is gunning for LCS Frigate design, the MEKO looks good enough, but I think LCS based Littoral Combat Frigate will win.

 

[Oldman1]

There are someone within RAN is gunning for LCS Frigate design, the MEKO looks good enough, but I think LCS based Littoral Combat Frigate will win.

Based on what?

 

[jhungary]

Based on what?

LCS-2 is a proven design (In fact it was an Australian design) and was build by Austal.

The other competitor would be (FREMM form Italy, Type-26 from UK, MEKO from Germany and F-100 from Spain)

Austal offer both Scale down design for new OPV (SEA1180) project and SEA5000 future frigate, the design is similar so they bound to save some money on that, also don't forget Austal is an Australian Own company....There were talk between Austal and the Government to move back to Fremantle and expand their shipyard in Henderson. That usually mean something was up

 

[Penguin]

I like the MEKO 200AN design as well as the MEKO A-400 RAN.

The two MEKO A-200AN frigates were ordered by Algeria from Germany in March 2012 under a $2.7 billion U.S. deal involving the two ships as well as six AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters. The contract also has an option for two additional frigates.
http://quwa.org/2016/04/26/algerias-first-meko-200an-frigate-commissioned/

The approximate base price of the Super Lunx 300 rotorcraft is $14.3 million
http://helicopters.axlegeeks.com/l/86/AgustaWestland-Super-Lynx-300

[In 2001] The Thai government ordered two Super Lynx 300 naval helicopters Aug. 1, a deal worth $35 million for Westland Helicopters.
http://aviationweek.com/awin/thai-government-orders-westland-super-lynx-300-helicopters

So, six helicopters would cost between $86 million - $105 million, which means the rest of the deal boils down to $2.6 billion including 2 ships. That suggests $1.3 billion per ship, which is rather steep for a frigate in this class. So, that deal probably includes a lot of other things besides the ships. Even if you double the cost for 6 helicopters and alot some money for an option on a further 2 ships.

Nice ships though, these A220AN.
http://www.navyrecognition.com/inde...te-for-algerian-navy-to-start-sea-trials.html

Info on the A400/MKS180
http://www.aspi.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/26503/Kamerman-The-German-experience-slides.pdf

Point still remains: the US ships are all rather expensive. Why is the USN not looking at cooperative efforts with non-US designers/yards for a (at leasty partially) common solution, leveraging their experiences with designing/building lower cost platforms? Commonalities with e.g. Australian, British and even Spanish navies could be usefull. For examples in the opposite direction, see South Korean and Japanese navy's larger sihps and 'export Perry's' of Australia, Spain and Taiwan.