After the not very successful LCS program, the US Navy decided to launch a new project, the goal of which is again to create warships for coastal and sea zones. Recently, within the framework of the new FFG (X) program, the competitive stage has ended, and the Navy has chosen a developer. In addition, the timing of the appearance of the new frigate and its technical features are already known.
Five projects
The FFG (X) program was launched exactly three years ago - in July 2017. Its goal was to create a promising frigate capable of replacing the unsuccessful ships of the two LCS series in the future. The Navy plans to build up to 20 new ships by the forties.
FFG (X) had a number of different requirements. First of all, the fleet noted the need to create a new frigate based on the existing project - to reduce the cost and terms of development and construction. Also, the minimum required set of equipment and weapons was set to solve the assigned range of tasks.
By February 2018, the circle of program participants was determined. Five companies and associations with various projects have joined the work on FFG (X). They received contracts worth $ 15 million for the development of draft designs, which were then planned to be compared and the best one was selected.
Austal USA offered a trimaran frigate based on the existing LCS Independence-class project. General Dynamics in collaboration with Bath Iron Works and Navantia (Spain) has developed a modification of the F100 project. Huntington Ingalls Industries has offered an upgraded version of the National Security Cutter. The American company Marinette Marine, together with Lockheed Martin, has created a variant of the LCS Freedom, and together with Fincantieri, a modification of the "European" frigate FREMM.
Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine left the FFG (X) program in May 2019. Shortly thereafter, the customer clarified the requirements and received the final draft designs. In September, the designers determined the price of their ships, after which the process of analysis and selection of the winner began.
Victory and continuation
In early April, the Minister of the Navy spoke about the possible name of the ships of the new series. The head can get the name USS Agility (FFG-80) - "Dexterous"; accordingly, the whole project will be called Agility-class. Then the ships Intrepid, Endeavor and Dauntless ("Brave", "Swift" and "Fearless") may appear. However, such names for the ships have not yet been approved and may change.
On April 30, 2020, the US Navy announced the winner of the competitive stage. It was a project from Fincantieri / Marinette Marine based on the FREMM frigate. We signed a contract with the companies for the development of a technical design and the construction of the first ship - more than $ 795 million has been allocated for this. It is curious that weapons and other equipment are not included in this amount, the fleet will order them separately. Taking into account all such expenses, the head FFG (X) will build $ 1.28 billion.
Under the terms of the contract, it will take about two years to complete the design and prepare for construction. The laying of the lead FFG (X) will take place no later than April 2022. The ship is scheduled to be handed over to the customer in mid-2026, and it will only reach its initial operational readiness in 2030.
In 2021, the Navy plans to order the construction of the first serial frigate. He is going to be accepted at the end of 2026 with the beginning of full-fledged service at the turn of the decade. In 2022, the first contract for two ships should appear at once. Such agreements are going to be signed annually, until 2030. As serial construction is established, the cost of ships will decrease. So, the first serial will cost a little over 1 billion, and the second (third in the series) will not be more expensive than 900-920 million.
The last of the 20 FFG (X) Agility-class ships will be completed in the second half of the thirties, and then will take up service. The total cost of construction, taking into account the design work and the purchase of equipment, will exceed $ 19.8 billion at current prices. The current contract and option provides for a spend of $ 5.58 billion.
Technical features
The FFG (X) by Fincantieri and Marinette Marine is a reworked FREMM frigate for the Italian Navy. It will be a ship 151 m long and 19.8 m wide with a normal draft of less than 8 m. The displacement is 6, 7 thousand tons. A multi-tiered superstructure with a characteristic profile is placed on the hull of traditional contours. It houses both a mast with antenna devices and part of the weapons.
The use of a power plant of the CODLAG type is reported, but its composition is not specified. Italian FREMMs use 4 diesel generators with a capacity of 2, 15 or 2, 8 MW (on different ships of the series), as well as a pair of 2.5 MW propulsion electric motors. There is also a 32 MW gas turbine engine. Perhaps the American FFG (X) will keep such a power plant. With its help, it will be possible to obtain a speed of over 30 knots and a cruising range of 6800 nautical miles.
At the request of the customer, FFG (X) receives the COMBATSS-21 combat information and control system - a derivative of the serial Aegis BIUS. The main means of the electronic complex will be the AN / SPY-6 (V) 3 EASR radar with three AFAR on the superstructure, designed to search for targets and control weapons. Navigation radar - AN / SPS-73 (V) 18 NGSSR. It is required to install a set of sonar systems in different designs.
On the deck in front of the superstructure is an Mk 110 gun mount with a 57-mm cannon. Along the perimeter of the deck, it is possible to mount machine guns of large and normal caliber to protect against small surface objects.
In front of the superstructure is placed a universal vertical launcher Mk 41 with 32 cells. It will be complemented by the Mk 49 launcher with 21 RIM-116 RAM anti-aircraft missiles. It is proposed to mount one or two NSM anti-ship missile launchers on the superstructure. Ammunition of the frigate will include a variety of missile weapons, but it will be based on missiles.
The FFG (X) will be able to carry one MH-60R helicopter and / or unmanned aerial vehicles such as the MQ-8C. It also provides for the transportation of a pair of inflatable boats.
The crew will include 140 people. Probably, the composition of the crew for the Agility-class will be constant and independent of the tasks or the composition of the aviation group - in contrast to the Italian FREMM frigates.
Targets and goals
According to the plans of the US Navy, the promising FFG (X) frigates will have to work independently and in ship groups, in the coastal and sea zones. Due to the presence of a wide range of artillery and missile weapons, they will be able to perform different functions and provide both the protection of the order and the defeat of designated targets.
It is assumed that the main tasks of FFG (X) will be participation in the air defense and anti-aircraft defense of the ship group, for which there are appropriate weapons and equipment on board. At the same time, the frigate will operate in unified information and control circuits and exchange data with other ships. Also, the specific composition of the cannon and machine gun armament will effectively deal with small surface targets - boats and boats, incl. with a massive attack.
In terms of characteristics and capabilities, the Agility-class project compares favorably with the unsuccessful LCS ships, for which it was created to replace. At one time it was argued that LCS, having a modular architecture, can receive any necessary equipment and weapons. However, it was not possible to fully unleash this potential due to a number of problems.
FFG (X) based on FREMM is originally a "normal" surface ship without any revolutionary ideas and solutions, but equipped with all the necessary systems. In addition, the basis of the new American project is a ship that has been well mastered in the series and in operation. The Italian Navy already has eight such frigates, and new ones are expected to appear.
A matter of time
In general, the FFG (X) program and the project from Fincantieri and Marinette Marine at the moment look interesting and promising. The result of the current work will be the emergence of a successful and massive ship with sufficient characteristics and capabilities, but without overly bold decisions. Against the backdrop of the existing LCS, this will be a real success.
However, the replacement of existing ships will take place only in the distant future. The FREMM modernization project for the requirements of the US Navy is still being developed, the laying of the lead frigate will take place next year, and the initial operational readiness will only be achieved in 2030. Accordingly, the entire series of ships will turn into a combat-ready force in 15-20 years.
Until then, the coastal fleet will have to rely on existing and under construction LCS ships - despite all the claims against them. To date, the Navy has received two dozen such combat units, and their total number in the future will reach 35. Thus, the real effect of the FFG (X) program has been postponed for a serious period, and the criticized LCS project is still relevant.
