The issue with the new FFG isn’t the VLS cell count.
Yes, with the ongoing retirement of the Tico’s impacting overall VLS count, we’re losing some firepower.
The problem with the FFG is that it’s a year behind schedule as the PRC pumps out new boats every couple weeks.
Yes, with the ongoing retirement of the Tico’s impacting overall VLS count, we’re losing some firepower.
The problem with the FFG is that it’s a year behind schedule as the PRC pumps out new boats every couple weeks.
This is why so many folks want to get creative and do things like weld containerized fires to LCS and give the Marines and Army free rein to buy up a bunch of land-based anti-ship missiles. That stops the bleeding and makes the PLA’s maneuver targeting process more difficult.
But there’s an upper limit to that compensation. You have to start producing more ships, at a faster rate, that actually work as designed, in order to really regain overmatch.
You can hold at risk an invasion fleet with lots of things: missiles, mines, loitering munitions and swarms.
But, and boy do I hate to make this comparison, but just like the infantry on land, you need ships, with real firepower and armor, to take and hold those waterways.
But, and boy do I hate to make this comparison, but just like the infantry on land, you need ships, with real firepower and armor, to take and hold those waterways.
All of the duct tape things we’re doing to hold off the PLA are short term gap fillers for the series of grave fuck ups we made (and continue to make) on Pacific policy, strategy, and force posture. Duct tape only holds for so long without something strong reinforcing it.
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