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The US Naval Institute News Service has provided an update on the FFG(X) program, based on a Jan. 15, 2019 presentation at the Surface Navy Association Symposium, by Regan Campbell, Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants, which provides both a projected lower unit cost approaching $800M for follow on units (not a lot more than the Coast Guard was paying for its National Security Cutters) and a list of minimal equipment to be included in each ship
There is one particular item on the list of equipment that may be significant for the Coast Guard, “57mm gun (with ALaMO)”. That means the “Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance” or ALaMO program to provide guided projectiles for the 57mm Mk110 gun is still on track. Apparently ALaMO uses the same guidance system developed for the Hyper-Velocity Round.
The FFG(X) will also share, in common with all the NSCs, the Mk160 Gun Fire Control System, and with the later NSCs, the Mk20 Electro-Optic Sensor System (Mods may be different). This means we can expect continued Navy support of these systems over the long-term.
Request for Proposal is to be issued Q4FY2019. Contract award is expected Q4FY2020.
I note there is still no image available for Huntington Ingalls proposal which may be based on the National Security Cutter.
Below is a list of equipment for the FFG(X) found on page three of the presentation. I can not claim to recognize all the acronyms. Interestingly there is space and weight reservation for a 150 kW Laser Weapon.
Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)) Capabilities AW 3x3x3 fixed-face EASR (Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar) Mk41 VLS (32 cell) SM-2 Blk IIIC ESSM Blk 2 21 cell RAM launcher (Rolling Airframe Missile) UPX-29 IFF CEC (Cooperative Engagement Capability) EW/IO SLQ-32(V)6 (SEWIP Blk II) w/ HGHS and Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) Spectral (Follow on to SSEE Inc F) AOEW (on airborne asset) SWAP-C reservation for SLQ-32C(V)7 (SEWIP Blk III Lite) SWAP-C reservation for 150kw laser WATERCRAFT 7m RHIB (x2) SUW 57mm gun (with ALaMO) Mk160 GFCS Mk20 Mod 1EOSS OTH fire control system OTH 2x4 (T)/ 2x8 (Obj) 50 caliber machine guns iStalker w/3600 coverage NGSSR AVIATION Organic MH-60R (x1) Organic MQ-8C (x1) Secure & Traverse Aircraft Handling System Horizon Reference System Night Vision Device Compatibility ASW AN/SQS-62 Variable Depth Sonar or Low Band Hull Array TB-37 MFTA w/ TACI AN/SQQ-89(V)15 USW-DSS AN/SLQ-61 Lightweight Tow or SLQ-25 NIXIE ADC (Torp CM) Mk41 VLS supports VLA (Vertical Launch ASROC) for allwx stand-off ASW weapon (future) SVTT – Shipboard Torpedo Launch (Obj) C4I/ CMS CANES ICOP Link-11/22 Link-16 LOS/STJ/JRE HF/VHF/UHF LOS UHF/SHF/EHF SATCOM NTCDL Frigate Weapon System (FWS) Advanced Cyber Design GPNTS & ECDIS