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Posted by Ralph Wood on November 28, 2025, 6:39:36, in reply to "Re: Frigate"
The Constellation class was never more than 20 on paper, with only ten ever funded and seriously planned. And the first one would not even be ready until 2029 (while China's goal is 2027.) So, "would have been available as a completed design" (from 12% complete currently) is little more "concrete" than any other idea at this point. We can't "dither" anymore. "Lead, follow, or get out of the way" is the situation. We've been evaluating this new approach for at least a decade. "The powers that be" have reviewed all the options, and selected this. It looks like the best course. We have just "ordered the helm to switch to it." We're turning now, and that's the way it is. Everyone's "queeziness" is justified. But, we're not in a good place, and we have to do something about it, and this looks to be the best option to the people who are closest to it. Time will tell if it is, or not. I posted somewhere earlier that success wil bring justification, and failure will bring recrimination. That is life. We all pick our course, and take our chances.
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One objection: "when other more affordable options which can be produced more quickly and in greater numbers and are more useful are available". I cannot see that option, especially available ones.
The Constellation class would have been available as a completed design. The only other options are the LCS - and they are less than optimal compared to the much more heavily armed Chinese ships - even if escorted by a lot of unmanned ships. The unmanned assets would have to compensate for the lack of sonar, the lack of good radar, the lack of sufficient air-defence, the weak anti-ship capability etc. Some of that is possible, but e.g. I do not see how they could improve the sensor capabilities for air defense. And the LCS are also suboptimal in regard of range and sea keeping. They are optimised too much for high-speed.
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