{"id":34091,"date":"2018-07-09T18:43:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T18:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/09\/has-the-us-navy-thought-this-new-frigate-through-new-report-raises-questions\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:43:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:43:42","slug":"has-the-us-navy-thought-this-new-frigate-through-new-report-raises-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2018\/07\/09\/has-the-us-navy-thought-this-new-frigate-through-new-report-raises-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Has the US Navy thought this new frigate through? New report raises questions."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 The U.S. Navy is rapidly moving toward procuring the first hull in its new class of frigate<\/a> in 2020, but a new report is raising questions about whether the Navy has done detailed analysis about what it needs out of the ship before barging ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy may not have done an adequate job of analyzing gaps and capabilities shortfalls before it set itself on a fast-track to buying the so-called FFG(X)<\/a> as an adaptation from a parent design, said influential Navy analyst Ron O\u2019Rourke in a new Congressional Research Service report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In essence, the CRS report questions whether the Navy looked at what capabilities the service already has in the fleet, what capabilities it\u2019s missing and whether the FFG(X) is the optimal solution to address any identified shortfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Rourke suggests Congress push the Navy on \u201cwhether procuring a new class of FFGs is the best or most promising general approach for addressing the identified capability gaps and mission needs, and whether the Navy has performed a formal, rigorous analysis of this issue, as opposed to relying solely on subjective judgments of Navy or [Defense Department] leaders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u201cSubjective judgments, though helpful, can overlook counter-intuitive results regarding the best or most promising general approach,\u201d the report reads. \u201cPotential alternative general approaches for addressing identified capability gaps and mission needs in this instance include (to cite a few possibilities) modified LCSs, FFs, destroyers, aircraft, unmanned vehicles, or some combination of these platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t