FFG(X)

[SSgtC]

@jsport The Greek competition has nothing to do with FFG(X).

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy paired to offer one potential solution, in which the defense contractor would upgrade the MEKOs and sell a multi-mission frigate based off its Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, dubbed the Hellenic Future Frigate,

so beleive relevant

Not in the least. FFG(X) is the Constellation class frigate. The US is not pursuing the Freedom class as anything more than an LCS and it is not a part of the FFG(X) program

 

[jsport]

@jsport The Greek competition has nothing to do with FFG(X).

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy paired to offer one potential solution, in which the defense contractor would upgrade the MEKOs and sell a multi-mission frigate based off its Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, dubbed the Hellenic Future Frigate,

so beleive relevant

Not in the least. FFG(X) is the Constellation class frigate. The US is not pursuing the Freedom class as anything more than an LCS and it is not a part of the FFG(X) program

Someone needs to change the thread to Constellation class (multi-mission guided-missile frigates) as it is no longer (x) program. As the MEKO was FFG (X) contender and beleived there was discussion of a new frigate competetion after twelve Constellations as some in the USN seemed not happy w/ the Constellation decision.

 

[aonestudio]

Guided Missile Frigate (FFG 62) Update National Symposium – Surface Navy Association
CAPT Kevin Smith January 11, 2022

 

[TomS]

Nice review. Not much new there, I think, but it is interesting that they seem to have stabilized on 16 NSM, a small change from 8-16 in the early documents. Obviously, how many actual canisters will be embarked may vary but it feels like they will at least have racks for all 16.

Can anyone help me figure out whether SLQ-32(V)6, aka SEWIP Lite, has an electronic attack capability or is strictly an ESM system? Published sources are vague.

 

[jsport]

​

Surface Electronic Warfare

The U.S. Navy surface fleet is providing an evolutionary succession of enhancements to its AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system currently installed on its ships

www.lockheedmartin.com

Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement​

Program (SEWIP) Lite​

AN/SLQ-32C(V)6 or “SEWIP Lite” is part of the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program product line. The system provides early detection, analysis, threat warning, and protection from anti-ship missiles. SEWIP Lite is capable of both littoral and open ocean electronic surveillance. This system will be installed on fast frigate class and U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters.

contractor may not disclose atk capability

 

[Moose]

For Navy's new frigate, design changes carry risks and rewards - Breaking Defense

Analysts say straying too far from a parent design can cause problems, but so can being too faithful to it.

breakingdefense.com

 

[TomS]

Nice review. Not much new there, I think, but it is interesting that they seem to have stabilized on 16 NSM, a small change from 8-16 in the early documents. Obviously, how many actual canisters will be embarked may vary but it feels like they will at least have racks for all 16.

Can anyone help me figure out whether SLQ-32(V)6, aka SEWIP Lite, has an electronic attack capability or is strictly an ESM system? Published sources are vague.

Answering my own question, I figured out that SLQ-32(V)6 does not include electronic attack. So, Nulka is it, for the moment.

 

[Josh_TN]

IS SQL-32(V)6 the version on FFGX? I would have thought there would at least be an active component.

 

[TomS]

IS SQL-32(V)6 the version on FFGX? I would have thought there would at least be an active component.

According to the slides posted on Jan 12, yes.

I'm a bit surprised, too. But the USN has a history of cheaping out on EA for frigates and then backfitting it later (Sidekick, for example). NG is definitely pushing a version of SEWIP III Lite with EA capability for the frigates and the initial 2019 capabilities slide for FFG(X) included SWAP-C for that when it becomes available. It also included an ability to work with the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) pod on helicopters, so it's not like they're ignoring EA entirely.

It may well just be that SEWIP III is too big (it's really huge) and III Lite isn't available until after IOC for the frigates.

 

[Moose]

III Lite isn't a POR yet, unfortunately, the USN's been focused on getting Block II to as many hulls as it can and development of Block III. They're certainly interested, but it's too soon to say when NG might get a contract (or whether a competition may happen). Plus there's Block IV to contend for funding.

 

[Firefinder]

IS SQL-32(V)6 the version on FFGX? I would have thought there would at least be an active component.

According to the slides posted on Jan 12, yes.

I'm a bit surprised, too. But the USN has a history of cheaping out on EA for frigates and then backfiring it later (Sidekick, for example). NG is definitely pushing a version of SEWIP III Lite with EA capability for the frigates and the initial 2019 capabilities slide for FFG(X) included SWAP-C for that when it becomes available. It also included an ability to work with the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) pod on helicopters, so it's not like they're ignoring EA entirely.

It may well just be that SEWIP III is too big (it's really huge) and III Lite isn't available until after IOC for the frigates.

III Lite isn't a POR yet, unfortunately, the USN's been focused on getting Block II to as many hulls as it can and development of Block III. They're certainly interested, but it's too soon to say when NG might get a contract (or whether a competition may happen). Plus there's Block IV to contend for funding.

Then again cant the New SPY6 do EWAR including Electronic Attack stuff as well?

If so I can see a dedicated EA system being dropped as an redundant expanse on a "cheap" ship.

 

[Josh_TN]

It’s possible it can jam in the x band; I’ve not heard of such a capability but in principle I think any AESA can be used that way inside its frequency range. It would take software set up to handle that effect though.

 

[totallyaverage]

The Navy does have several drop-in EW systems such as the SLQ-59 and 61 deployed to 7th and 6th Fleets respectively. While it is not a program goal (largely to limit schedule and cost risk), it is easy to foresee them adding either of those in the late 20s to 30s.

 

[Firefinder]

It’s possible it can jam in the x band; I’ve not heard of such a capability but in principle I think any AESA can be used that way inside its frequency range. It would take software set up to handle that effect though.

Just checked, according to Raytheon site the SPY-6 V3 the version going on the Constellation class is fully capable of electronic warfare so... eyeah.

Why waste money on redundant capabilities at the start when you can add the more specialized gear later?

US Navy SPY 6 Radars

SPY-6 is the U.S Navy family of radars that perform air and missile defense on seven classes of ships. The SPY-6 family are integrated, meaning they can defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hostile aircraft and surface ships simultaneously.

www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com

 

[TomS]

It’s possible it can jam in the x band; I’ve not heard of such a capability but in principle I think any AESA can be used that way inside its frequency range. It would take software set up to handle that effect though.

Just checked, according to Raytheon site the SPY-6 V3 the version going on the Constellation class is fully capable of electronic warfare so... eyeah.

Why waste money on redundant capabilities at the start when you can add the more specialized gear later?

US Navy SPY 6 Radars

SPY-6 is the U.S Navy family of radars that perform air and missile defense on seven classes of ships. The SPY-6 family are integrated, meaning they can defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hostile aircraft and surface ships simultaneously.

www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com

Read carefully. It says SPY-6(V)3 "defends against ... Jamming/clutter and electronic warfare." I believe this is stating that it can reject or otherwise overcome jamming and other EW techniques directed against it (decoys, chaff, etc.), not necessarily that it is capable of performing EA against other targets.

 

[Firefinder]

It’s possible it can jam in the x band; I’ve not heard of such a capability but in principle I think any AESA can be used that way inside its frequency range. It would take software set up to handle that effect though.

Just checked, according to Raytheon site the SPY-6 V3 the version going on the Constellation class is fully capable of electronic warfare so... eyeah.

Why waste money on redundant capabilities at the start when you can add the more specialized gear later?

US Navy SPY 6 Radars

SPY-6 is the U.S Navy family of radars that perform air and missile defense on seven classes of ships. The SPY-6 family are integrated, meaning they can defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hostile aircraft and surface ships simultaneously.

www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com

Read carefully. It says SPY-6(V)3 "defends against ... Jamming/clutter and electronic warfare." I believe this is stating that it can reject or otherwise overcome jamming and other EW techniques directed against it (decoys, chaff, etc.), not necessarily that it is capable of performing EA against other targets.

Just finish 10 years working on military radars with alot of work with Raytheon.

That just company speak for defending in both defense is best offense and Offense is best defense ways of saying.

IE it can do both the old soft defense of rejection enemy signals and the hard defense of blinding the enemy receivers.

 

[TomS]

I really need to read the whole article on this.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/us-navy-looks-again-at-vds-options-for-new-frigate/

So, somewhere along the way, the VDS for FFG-62 become CFE instead of GFE, and Fincanteri doesn't like the Raytheon VDS they were initially directed to use.

So, they seem to be angling for CAPTAS-4, already on the FREMM, instead.

 

[TomS]

I really need to read the whole article on this.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/us-navy-looks-again-at-vds-options-for-new-frigate/

So, somewhere along the way, the VDS for FFG-62 become CFE instead of GFE, and Fincanteri doesn't like the Raytheon VDS they were initially directed to use.

So, they seem to be angling for CAPTAS-4, already on the FREMM, instead.

And it's official...

Navy to swap sonar on new frigate following years of struggles with testing - Breaking Defense

A senior Navy officer is seeking to dispel notions the changes to the LCS program and the frigate program were connected.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Ainen]

In context of recent demise of one certain CG, found it curious that US bothered to ensure wide separation of machinery spaces on their FREMM.
When other nations were growing their frigates to old light cruiser dimensions, apparently most other nations didn't bother to not carry over smaller ship survivability practices. Well, kudos to USN for not doing so.

 

[Josh_TN]

The USN has always been big on survivability. Looking at the proposed DDG(X) design, it looks like there is a void between the two engine rooms/machinery spaces where the space for deep VLS for CPS was reserved. The casualty of last week was of a design and naval culture that did not consider DC worth while - the school of thought tended to be "if it is hit it is out of action anyway, so why save it?".

 

[TomS]

USN Damage control culture is huge -- a lot of folks are just baffled by how badly it seems to have gone for Moskva.

For comparison, I've been looking at the DC report for USS Stark, which was similarly damaged (two missile impacts, one actual detonation, mass conflagration, etc.). These two photos are telling, I think:





They are strikingly similar -- in both, the ship is still on fire and is listing heavily (mainly due to firefighting water building up in compartments above the waterline). You can see hoses running (on Stark, it's a dewatering pump in action; on Moskva they may be from a rescue ship just behind her in the photo -- hard to tell). The key difference is that Stark's crew are still on board, and you can see some of them on the flight deck. Some may be casualties waiting to be evac'd, but I believe they are mostly sailors taking a breather before going back in to continue the DC efforts. On Moskva, there is no one visible on board and it's clear that the crew have already abandoned (all the life rafts are gone, while you can still see them in place on Stark's helo hangar)

 

[Cordy]

Re the SEWIP Blk 2 Lite due to be fitted to Constellaion, same as to be installed as part of the LCS lethality and survivability upgrade, Lockheed had proposed to add the active array taken from the MH-60 Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) to give an electronic attack capability which would hopefully be able to jam/soft kill the RF seeker of the anti-ship missiles that resulted in sinking the Moskva.

PS The new, large and expensive, $70+ million SEWIP Blk 3 to fitted to the new build Burkes comes with flat panel electronic attack arrays built in.

 

[Josh_TN]

Probably something that will be reserved for the second batch to reduce risk.

 

[TomS]

Wonder if AOEW-Shipboard (or whatever LM wants to call it) would be competing against SEWIP III Lite for space and budget on the next batch of FFGs? (And presumably a quick backfit to Batch 1)

I get the idea behind AEOW, but I wonder about the logistics of trying to get the helo equipped with the pod, launched, and on station ahead of a missile attack. Seems like unless you have some significant warning, it's not a sure bet that it will be available in time. Hosting an active jammer on the ship sounds like a better bet.

 

[Ainen]

The USN has always been big on survivability. Looking at the proposed DDG(X) design, it looks like there is a void between the two engine rooms/machinery spaces where the space for deep VLS for CPS was reserved. The casualty of last week was of a design and naval culture that did not consider DC worth while - the school of thought tended to be "if it is hit it is out of action anyway, so why save it?".

List of larger naval powers that went far enough to ensure such a survivability measure(wide physical separation of machinery spaces) itself is kinda telling.

-US(all modern major surface combatants sans LCS)
-Japan (all modern major surface combatants sans Mogami)
-Germany (F125 onwards - full separate combat echelons, much like DD(X) you've mentioned)
-Spain
+Italy is apparently doing the shift right now (PPA, future DDX).

Indian navy carried this arrangement on its destroyers through eras (right from Kashin class), but not for their own large frigates.

PRC, UK, Russia, France and Korea seem to be completely off that train.

 

[Firefinder]

-US(all modern major surface combatants sans LCS)

Even the LCS has a good amount of separation between the Diesel and Turbines. Not as much as some would like cause of space reasons but they are in separate rooms with splinter proofing between them.

 

[aonestudio]

Fincantieri Marinette Marine Starts Frigate Construction | Fincantieri

MARINETTE, WIS. – August 31, 2022 – Fincantieri Marinette Marine officially started construction on the U.S. Navy’s first Constellation-class guided missile

fincantierimarinegroup.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

From back in October:

Fincantieri Marinette Marine kicks-off construction of first Constellation-class frigate

 

[aonestudio]

Fincantieri CEO talks US frigates, vision for Europe’s naval sector

The building of new U.S. Navy frigates in Wisconsin is about to get more efficient thanks to the introduction of techniques used to make cruise ships.

www.c4isrnet.com

 

[aonestudio]

Navy-Industry Event Highlights Digital Tools for Frigate Bridge Design

SAN DIEGO – Constellation class frigate (FFG) principals from across the surface Navy force, Naval Sea Systems Command engineering directorate and program offices, and industry gathered at the Mariner

www.navsea.navy.mil

Rolls Royce to supply MTU generator sets for Constellation class friga

google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4068738923530102"; /* Navy Recognition 468x15 link */ google_ad_slot = "6873402760"; google_ad_width = 468; google_a

www.navyrecognition.com

 

[bobbymike]

Constellation-Class Frigate Program Includes ‘Game-Changing’ Sustainment Technology, Official Said

Constellation-Class Frigate Program Includes ‘Game-Changing’ Sustainment Technology, Official Said

www.nationaldefensemagazine.org

 

[aonestudio]

Fincantieri finishing $300M shipyard renovations, a big bet on the US Navy's frigate plans - Breaking Defense

The company spent $300 million on four projects with the hopes of seeing two frigates being bought every year, which is faster than the Navy's current projection.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Cordy]

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 05, ’23] Sea Air & Space Day Three-Fincantieri’s Mark Vandroff​

Interview with Marinette Marine CEO on the shipyard upgrades 1:15 -14:00

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 05, ’23] Sea Air & Space Day Three-Fincantieri's Mark Vandroff & Fairlead's Fred Pasquine - Defense & Aerospace Report

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. In conjunction with the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Global Maritime Exposition we present...

defaeroreport.com

 

[archipeppe]

Italian FREMM frigate (blue silouette) vs US Constellation (white drawing):

 

[Josh_TN]

Thanks for that…I never appreciated how much the mast arrangement changed. It’s a much sleeker profile.

 

[archipeppe]

 

[H_K]

@archipeppe The scale looks off in both drawings… FFG-62 should be visibly longer (+23.6ft LOA).

 

[TomS]

@archipeppe The scale looks off in both drawings… FFG-62 should be visibly longer (+23.6ft LOA).

It is. It's just that the blue FREMM outline is behind the FFG-62 so it's not obvious that its transom ends significantly further right in the image (just aft of the FFG's rudder) and its bow ends slightly to the left (behind the FFG's bow bulwark).

 

[H_K]

@TomS After checking, you are probably right.

One hull frame on the drawing seems to be approx. 90cm long (3ft), so the difference between the 2 designs should be exactly 8 hull frames. FFG-62 is about 4 frames longer at the stern, and the bow (which is harder to discern) appears to be approx. 3-4 frames longer so the math works out.

 

[Jimmo952]

Thanks for that…I never appreciated how much the mast arrangement changed. It’s a much sleeker profile.

The US Navy wanted to leverage work they did on the masts of the Burke class.