Read this for a lot of the technical data for these frigates. This video presents 8 modern frigates from 6 different countries and is meant to give the reader a broad knowledge of the type of frigates at sea now in modern times.
The Eight FFGs include:
USS Freedom Class LCS/Frigate. 10 built 18 planned. 3500 tons, Currently being upgraded from LCS to the Fast Frigate (FF) standard. 48 knot top speed, 1 x 57 mm DP rapid fire main guns, 1 x RAM launcher with 21 missiles, 2 x 30mm Mk44 guns, 24 VLS Hellfire missiles, 2 x 4 NSM (Naval Strike Missiles) LR ASM, Hanger & Pad for 1 MH-60E + 1 MQ-8C Fire Scout helos. Room for expansion to Mk41 32 Cell VLS
USS Independence Class LCS/Frigate. 12 built 19 planned. 3050 tons, Currently being upgraded from LCS to the Fast Frigate (FF) standard. 45 knot top speed, 1 x 57 mm DP rapid fire main guns, 1 x SeaRAM launcher with 7 missiles, 2 x 30mm Mk44 guns, 24 VLS Hellfire missiles, 2 x 4 NSM (Naval Strike Missiles) LR ASM, Hanger & Pad for 1 MH-60E + 1 MQ-8C Fire Scout hekos, or 1 x MC-53 Sea Dragon Mine Sweeper large helo. Room for expansion to Mk41 32 Cell VLS
UK Duke Class Type 23 FFG - 13 built, 28 knots, 5400 tons, 1 x 32 VLS w Sea Ceoter missiles (quad packed) 25 km range, 2 x 4 Harpoon LR ASM, 2 x 2 324 Torpedoes, 1 x 4.5" DP gun, 2 x 30mm Mk2 guns, 2 x mini guns, 4 x .50 cal hvy MGs, Helo and pad for up to Merlin MN2 Helo
Chinese (PLAN) Type 54A FFG - 30 blt, upgrade planned, 4500 tons, 28 knots, 1 x76mm DP gun, 32 VLS for HG-16 med range missiles or Y-18 ASROC ASW, 2 x 6 240 mm ASW Rockets, 2 x 30mm CIWS, 2 x 4 C-803 LR ASM, Haner and Pad for Ka-25 medium helo
Chinese (PLAM) Type 56 Corvette/Lt Frigate 40+ built, 6--70 planned, 1800 tons, 1 x 76mm main DP gun, 2 x 30mm gus, 1 x 8 FL3000N CIWS Missiles, 2 x 2 HQ-8 LR ASM, Pad for ASW Helo refueling and rearming
RUssian Admiral Gorshkov FFG, 2 BUILT, 6 PLANNED TO DATE + MORE, 5400 tons, 29 knots, 1 x 130mm DP main gun, 16 VLS for Kaliber LR ASM, 32 VLS for 9M96 missiles or quad 9M100 missiles, 2 x Kashtin CIWS w/2 x 30mm guns and 3 reloadable missiles each, 2 x 14.7 MG, Helo and Pad for Ka-25 MED asw HELO.
Japanese JMSDF Takanami FFG, 30 knots, 6300 tons, 1 x 127mm dp main gun, 32 Mk-2 VLS for quad packed ESSM (50 mi range), 2 x 4 SSM-18 LR ASM, 2 x 20mm Phalanx ciws, 2 x 3 torpedoes, 4 x 14.7mm hvy mg, helo and pad for SH-60J helo. Add 14 Murasmis to this.
German F122 Bremen FFG, 3680 tons, 8 Built, 2 remain, 30 Knots, 1 x 76mm DP gun, 1 x 8 ESSM launcher (16 reloads) 50 mi range, 2 x RAM launcher w/42 RAM missiles, 2 x 324mm torpedo launchers, 2 x 27mm auto cannons, 2 x 4 Harpoon LR ASM, Helo and pad for MH-60R helo.
These eight FFGs are representative of many, many frigates out there already, and other newer ones building. Most of the newer ones are leaning towards the stealthy designs that the US, Russia, and others already have.
We should not that the US has tendered and offer and will decide in 2019 on a new full multi-role FFG of 20 ships. These ships would be 5000+ tons and could be a partially sized down Hobart design like Australia picked from the Spanish F-100 AEGIS. It would be fully AGIS compatible, probably carry 32 Mk-41 VLS, a 127 mm main gun, at least eight and perhaps 16 KLR ASMs, a dual helo haner, and towed and bow sonar. The first one is scheduled to start building in 2020 which means at that time the US will be building the Burke class III DDGs, booth classes of the LCS/FFs, and this new FFG. At some point in the late 2020s they will add the new CG(x) to replace the Ticonderoga cruisers and probably build at least 22 of these.
As it is, by 2030, the US will be closing in on a total of 57 FFGs and 100 DDGs, plus the 22 Cgs. With the Zumwalts and the Cyclones, the US will be right at 200 surface combat ships, not including the carriers (CVNs), LHDs, LHAs, LPDs, LSDs or other such hugh values and well armed large vessels that the 200 must protect.
There are upwards of 50 of those large class ships.
The US also maintains 52-55 top of the line, including what many consider the most advance SSns, which also help in the escort and combat duties. So, without going into the mine laying, repair, replenishment, and other non-combat ships, the US will be right at 300 top of the line combat ships sometime in the 2020s.
Remember, with the F-35Bs, the US can make 4-5 of the LHD/LHA into very strong escort carriers any time it feels the need.
But all of this depends on a strong Frigate and destroyer fleets.
We showed you and talked in detail about the DDGs in the last film, and we have now presented the modern FFGs here.
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