WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy has awarded Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wis., a $795 million contract to design and build a new class of guided-missile frigate known as FFG(X). National Defense magazine reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
7 May 2020 -- The company will build as many as 10 new frigate surface warships, with a cumulative contract value of $5.6 billion if all options are exercised. Navy officials announced the deal last week.
Electronic systems aboard the new ship will include an Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, Baseline Ten AEGIS Combat System, a MK 41 Vertical Launch System, communications systems, MK 57 Gun Weapon System countermeasures, and added capability for EW and information warfare area, with design flexibility for future growth.
The vessel is expected to operate in the open ocean, as well as in shallow coastal waters and harbors, and handle anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Frigates typically are relatively small surface warships for convoy escort, and to participate in the outer air defense of Navy carrier battle groups and surface action groups.
The FFG(X) will replace the Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, which the last of its class was retired in 2015. The FFG(X) will be longer, wider, heavier, and have a longer range than the Perry-class frigate. The new ship will not be quite as fast, and will have a smaller crew than the Perry class.
Related: A once-proud class of U.S. Navy surface warships is quickly fading away
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
