Navy Asks Industry for “Concept Designs” of New Combat Frigate

by Kris Osborn

Proposals to build a new combat-capable Frigate able to destroy swarming small boat attacks, operate undersea and aerial drones, support carrier strike groups, conduct dis-aggregated operations, attack enemies with an over-the-horizon missile and engage in advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare, according to an announcement from Naval Sea Systems Command.

This new Guided Missile Frigate platform will “employ unmanned systems to penetrate and dwell in contested environments, operating at greater risk to gain sensor and weapons advantages over the adversary,” the Navy announcement states.

The service is also looking for industry to develop advanced sensors, networking technology and command and control for the ship.

“FFG(X) will be capable of establishing a local sensor network using passive onboard sensors, embarked aircraft and elevated/tethered systems and unmanned vehicles to gather information and then act as a gateway to the fleet tactical grid using resilient communications systems and networks,” the Navy announcement states.

Plans for the ship, as specified by the solicitation to industry for concept design ideas, align with elements of the previously released Request for Information; Navy visions for the new ship appear to exceed some of the capabilities initially envisioned for a ship which began the planning stages as merely a more “survivable” variant of the services’ Littoral Combat Ship.

While that sensibility is by no means lost, many sought after characteristics for the Frigate, such and anti-submarine and surface warfare, clearly mirror or expand upon missions performed by the LCS. Anticipated weapons and tactics for new Frigate clearly appear to be a product of fast-evolving, next-generation Navy thinking.

“We are going out to see what is possible,” a NAVSEA official told Scout Warrior.