Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1513581
RGM-184A NSM missiles are the primary part of that module. For the sake of comparison, the Freedom-class vessels have been (so far) using modules with light Longbow Hellfire missiles capable of neutralizing solely light vessels, at a short range. The trimarans, thanks to the large hangars and helipads, have been used for testing modular RTX SM-6 SAM launchers. Another important pain point for the Freedom-class is the qu- ality of workmanship and shipbuilding. Many cases of failing propulsion systems were recorded, along with subpar welding quality. That, along with the scarcity of spares meant that to conduct operations with the involvement of those vessels (in the Caribbean, or on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean), multiple cases of other warships being used as sources of spares were recorded. The lack of LCS warships' availability entailed more costs, as tasks usually assigned to LCS had to be reassigned to larger destroyers. gned to the vessels. That, in turn, resulted in a situation in which it was up to the fleet command to clearly define the assignment of individual vessels to the given mission set (patrol, MCMV, sur- face warfare). The aforesaid decision was somewhat dictated by the issues emerging during the manufacturing and testing of the mission modules - up until now, the US Navy has finalized the tests of the MCMV module. In the case of the remaining mo- dules, the tests are still underway. The recent, global geopolitical changes also became a nail in the coffin of the Freedom-class. The evolution of the political stan- ce adopted by Russia, and, primarily, China, led to a situation in which Navies around the world are departing from the concept of establishing forces tailored to limited intensity operations, and are focusing on open, full-scale conflict scenarios instead. The competing Independence class offers a much greater ope- rational potential. The installation of a provisional surface com- bat module on that vessel is a good example of that. Kongsberg www.fragoutmag.com