Lots of frigates plus new destroyers. That’s the fleet’s potential mix of surface warships as it completes a new force-structure assessment, according to the Navy’s deputy chief of naval operations.In a wide-ranging interview with the news website of the U.S. Naval Institute, Vice Adm. Bill Merz discussed the Navy’s existing cruisers and destroyers and the new frigates and “large surface combatants” it in coming decades plans to acquire.
The force-structure assessment, or FSA, is due out at the end of 2019. It would supersede the last FSA from December 2016.
The bottom line is that the old Ticonderoga-class cruisers could go away soon. In the meantime, the fleet could borrow systems from the new Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers in order to upgrade older Flight II destroyers.
Farther in the future, the missile frigates the Navy plans to buy beginning in 2020 — as well as the new large surface combatant that’s still in development — could replace the oldest destroyers.
Global News 
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