There were early reports that the Saudis were possibly interested in DDG-51s but their latest request makes no mention of Burkes. The USN awarded LM a sizable contract on behalf of the Saudis for Mk 41 VLS and it would seem these are intended for the frigate fleet they intend to buy.
If this turns out to be the case and SA foots the bill for,integration on LCS, maybe the USN could consider VLS on SSC?
Saudi Eastern Fleet Request Advances
Saudi Eastern Fleet Request Advances
ABU DHABI — A second letter of request (LoR) from the Saudi government detailing requirements for the Eastern Fleet replacement program was delivered to the US Navy in February, barely a month after an initial request was sent, according to sources here at the International Defence Exposition show.
The move highlights a heightened pace in developments related to the Saudi Naval Expansion Program, a project that could be worth as much as US $16 billion.
Competition has been fierce between French suppliers, who hold the preponderance of contracts in support of Saudi Arabia's western, or Red Sea fleet, and the US. Transmission of the LoRs to the US Navy's International Program Office could indicate the Saudis are leaning strongly toward a US buy.
If so, the Eastern Fleet plan also offers the strongest potential case yet for the first foreign sale of a version of the US Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS).
The February LoR offered a few more details and clarified some issues from the January document, sources said. As before, the Saudis did not list specific ship designs, but rather gave guidelines for their requirements. Among the highlights:
Four 3,500-ton "frigate-like warships" capable of anti-air warfare, armed with an eight-to-16-cell vertical launch system (VLS) capable of launching Standard SM-2
missiles; fitted with an "Aegis or like" combat system using "SPY-1F or similar" radars; able to operate Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters; with a speed of 35 knots.
Six 2,500-ton warships with combat systems compatible with the frigates, able to operate MH-60R helos.
20 to 24 fast patrol vessels about 40 to 45 meters long, powered by twin diesels.
10 "maritime helicopters" with characteristics identical to the MH-60R.
Three maritime patrol aircraft for coastal surveillance.
30 to 50 UAVs, some for maritime use, some to be shore-based.
The Saudis are said to be not interested in developing new designs, but rather want "proven capability" in their purchases.
Some reports indicated the Saudis want the shipbuilder to be the prime contractor for the program, but not to exclude Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Freedom-class LCS built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Such a requirement, however, is not in the LoR.
Lockheed Martin and Austal USA have offered versions of their littoral combat ships fitted with VLS and phased-array radars, including the SPY-1F, both for export and most recently for the US Navy's Small Surface Combatant (SSC) competition conducted in 2014. In December, the US Navy chose to forgo Aegis and VLS on its SSCs, now designated as frigates.
Other than the LCS/SSC/frigate designs, there are no other US designs in production that would fit the 3,500-ton parameters of the Saudi frigate.
The Saudis have long been said to be interested in the Lockheed LCS fitted with Aegis, SPY-1F and VLS, and the details in the LoR closely match characteristics of Lockheed's Multi-Mission Surface Combatant Ship (SCS) using the same 118-meter-long hull as that on current LCSs for the US Navy. The Saudis are widely reported not to be so interested in the ship's modular capabilities, although a reduced version of the mission bay features of the ships is expected to be part of the design.
More...
If this turns out to be the case and SA foots the bill for,integration on LCS, maybe the USN could consider VLS on SSC?
Saudi Eastern Fleet Request Advances
Saudi Eastern Fleet Request Advances
ABU DHABI — A second letter of request (LoR) from the Saudi government detailing requirements for the Eastern Fleet replacement program was delivered to the US Navy in February, barely a month after an initial request was sent, according to sources here at the International Defence Exposition show.
The move highlights a heightened pace in developments related to the Saudi Naval Expansion Program, a project that could be worth as much as US $16 billion.
Competition has been fierce between French suppliers, who hold the preponderance of contracts in support of Saudi Arabia's western, or Red Sea fleet, and the US. Transmission of the LoRs to the US Navy's International Program Office could indicate the Saudis are leaning strongly toward a US buy.
If so, the Eastern Fleet plan also offers the strongest potential case yet for the first foreign sale of a version of the US Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS).
The February LoR offered a few more details and clarified some issues from the January document, sources said. As before, the Saudis did not list specific ship designs, but rather gave guidelines for their requirements. Among the highlights:
Four 3,500-ton "frigate-like warships" capable of anti-air warfare, armed with an eight-to-16-cell vertical launch system (VLS) capable of launching Standard SM-2
missiles; fitted with an "Aegis or like" combat system using "SPY-1F or similar" radars; able to operate Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters; with a speed of 35 knots.
Six 2,500-ton warships with combat systems compatible with the frigates, able to operate MH-60R helos.
20 to 24 fast patrol vessels about 40 to 45 meters long, powered by twin diesels.
10 "maritime helicopters" with characteristics identical to the MH-60R.
Three maritime patrol aircraft for coastal surveillance.
30 to 50 UAVs, some for maritime use, some to be shore-based.
The Saudis are said to be not interested in developing new designs, but rather want "proven capability" in their purchases.
Some reports indicated the Saudis want the shipbuilder to be the prime contractor for the program, but not to exclude Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Freedom-class LCS built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Such a requirement, however, is not in the LoR.
Lockheed Martin and Austal USA have offered versions of their littoral combat ships fitted with VLS and phased-array radars, including the SPY-1F, both for export and most recently for the US Navy's Small Surface Combatant (SSC) competition conducted in 2014. In December, the US Navy chose to forgo Aegis and VLS on its SSCs, now designated as frigates.
Other than the LCS/SSC/frigate designs, there are no other US designs in production that would fit the 3,500-ton parameters of the Saudi frigate.
The Saudis have long been said to be interested in the Lockheed LCS fitted with Aegis, SPY-1F and VLS, and the details in the LoR closely match characteristics of Lockheed's Multi-Mission Surface Combatant Ship (SCS) using the same 118-meter-long hull as that on current LCSs for the US Navy. The Saudis are widely reported not to be so interested in the ship's modular capabilities, although a reduced version of the mission bay features of the ships is expected to be part of the design.
More...