US Navy releases RFP for guided-missile frigate contract

By Baird Maritime - June 26, 2019.

Image: US Navy photo by Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Nicholas Kontodiakos – Austal USA, one of the contenders in the FFG(X) programme, has proposed a frigate design based on the Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS). The US N

The US Navy has released a request for proposals (RFP) for the FFG(X) detail design and construction (DD&C) contract for first 10 guided-missile frigates which include one base ship and nine option ships.

The navy plans to award the contract for the FFG(X) DD&C in fiscal year 2020.

The FFG(X) will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations. Offerors who respond to the DD&C solicitation must propose an FFG(X) design based on a parent ship design that has been through production and demonstrated in full scale at sea.

Per US law, the FFG(X) must be built in a domestic shipyard.

To reach the navy’s full requirement of 20 FFG(X)s, a second contract is planned closer to 2025 for the next 10 ships to ensure more accurate pricing on out-year ships. This will be beyond the six years planned for the initial contract.