The acquisition of additional naval platforms for fire-support/anti-ship weapons is a long overdue idea. This has been an issue for decades. Things will only worsen with the retirement of the Tico Class cruisers which is an ongoing concern. In the past there was the call to bring back the battleship with its
unprecedented firepower. Then in the 90s there was a plan for an "arsenal ship" loaded with numerous missile cells. Currently the Japanese are proposing a ballistic missile defense ship (BMD), which displaces as much as a cruiser (9,000-12,000 T). The proposed ship would have a 5in gun as well as 128 VLS cells. Korea is proposing something similar.
More firepower is always better. However, before we rush to build a new ship class, we must remember the Zumwalts which turned into a fiasco, the LCS program which never lived up to their promise, the new LAW/LSM ship for FD, and finally the Constellation Class frigate which is a mess and hasn't even been built yet.
As for using existing ships for more missile platforms we could add the Naval Strike Missile to the LCS. In 2013 Huntington Ingalls proposed using an LPD 17 hull as a missile ship.
However, before the Navy commits again to a ship system, it needs to get their acquisition program and maintenance program in order first. We must do this smartly and hold people accountable.
The acquisition of additional naval platforms for fire-support/anti-ship weapons is a long overdue idea. This has been an issue for decades. Things will only worsen with the retirement of the Tico Class cruisers which is an ongoing concern. In the past there was the call to bring back the battleship with its
unprecedented firepower. Then in the 90s there was a plan for an "arsenal ship" loaded with numerous missile cells. Currently the Japanese are proposing a ballistic missile defense ship (BMD), which displaces as much as a cruiser (9,000-12,000 T). The proposed ship would have a 5in gun as well as 128 VLS cells. Korea is proposing something similar.
More firepower is always better. However, before we rush to build a new ship class, we must remember the Zumwalts which turned into a fiasco, the LCS program which never lived up to their promise, the new LAW/LSM ship for FD, and finally the Constellation Class frigate which is a mess and hasn't even been built yet.
As for using existing ships for more missile platforms we could add the Naval Strike Missile to the LCS. In 2013 Huntington Ingalls proposed using an LPD 17 hull as a missile ship.
However, before the Navy commits again to a ship system, it needs to get their acquisition program and maintenance program in order first. We must do this smartly and hold people accountable.