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US Navy issues RFI for new frigate anti-surface missile

F-22Raptor

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The Navy has issued a call to industry for options for an over-the-horizon anti-surface missile for the service’s future frigate design, according to a notice from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) posted on FedBizOpps.

The request for information (RFI) — issued on June 15 — asks industry for options for a complete systems that includes the munitions, the fire control system and the launch system for the future missile destined for the frigate with an upward weight limits of 22,500 pounds, according to the notice.

The new OTH missile is a key component for the frigate design, as outlined in broad strokes in December by the Navy.

Since the Navy announced its decision to modify the two existing Littoral Combat Ship designs for the frigate, two systems have emerged as likely contenders for the OTH business — Boeing with a modified version of its 1980s era RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile and a Raytheon-Kongsberg team with Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) based on Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile (JSM).

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The service tested a version of the NSM onboard the Littoral Combat Ship USS Independence (LCS-2) last year. The Harpoon as been a mainstay aboard U.S. ships for more than 30 years.

The striking power an OTH missile brings to the U.S. surface fleet has been folded into the Navy’s emerging “distributed lethality” concept.

The Navy has admitted repeatedly the anti-ship capability of its surface ships has suffered during the almost 15-year U.S. focus in low-intensity ground conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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As part of the distributed lethality concept — unveiled earlier this year by U.S. surface warfare leaders — the modified LCS frigate design could work with existing guided missile destroyers in three to four ship surface action groups (SAGs) that could give the U.S. effective lower cost options for power projection outside of the larger carrier strike group construct.

Responses to the query from NAVSEA’s Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) are due by July 15.

Navy Issues RFI for New Frigate Anti-Surface Missile - USNI News
 
This is a good development, but I have always wondered why they just didn't elongate the hull a bit and add a 24-32 cell Mk.41 loaded with LRASMs, ESSMs, and VL-ASROCs. Would have made a much more potent and flexible warship in my opinion.
 
This is a good development, but I have always wondered why they just didn't elongate the hull a bit and add a 24-32 cell Mk.41 loaded with LRASMs, ESSMs, and VL-ASROCs. Would have made a much more potent and flexible warship in my opinion.
Rather have a militarized version of the USCG's NSC. Stick a Thales I-mast 500 (with Apar) on it, two 8-cell mk 41 self defence launchers with a mix of 8 NSM-VL, 8x4 ESSM), a SeaRam, some Nulka decoys, a pair of 30mm cannon, a 76mm gun, a pair of triple torpedo tubes, a sonar, and two heli's.

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Rather have a militarized version of the USCG's NSC. Stick a Thales I-mast 500 (with Apar) on it, two 8-cell mk 41 self defence launchers with a mix of 8 NSM-VL, 8x4 ESSM), a SeaRam, some Nulka decoys, a pair of 30mm cannon, a 76mm gun, a pair of triple torpedo tubes, a sonar, and two heli's.
True

Do you have any ideas as to why the USN didn't go down the VLS and static phased array radar path with the LCS? Because honestly I'm stuck as to why they didn't integrate some more potent systems into the LCS. With proliferating cruise missile tech and a "refocus" to surface warfare, it surprised me a lot when they announced that the SSC will not have a VLS or better radar.
 
True

Do you have any ideas as to why the USN didn't go down the VLS and static phased array radar path with the LCS? Because honestly I'm stuck as to why they didn't integrate some more potent systems into the LCS. With proliferating cruise missile tech and a "refocus" to surface warfare, it surprised me a lot when they announced that the SSC will not have a VLS or better radar.
LCS is for dealing with swarms, not major ships. You don't fight swarms with big AShMs. LCS is also Multi role, intended to take on ASW, MCM, small assault transport, surface warfare (anti swarm role) roles. Not your typical frigate roles....

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What about LM?
I don't think they will be out of game!
 

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