Lord Jim wrote:The NSM and Rb-15 would be great weapons to adopt but given the space available we could possibly only install four of either in the position currently used by Harpoon.
Nansen class frigate with 16.8m beam handles 8 NSM on much smaller place compared to T23's Harppon (16.1m beam). So, 8 NSM can be easily carried on T23 and T45 (not to say T31 and T26). NSM and/or LRASM is NOT in the same league as Harpoon. So, maybe 8 will work.
see "
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 016%29.JPG"
...WE should go with the simplest option, be willing to accept compromises against our wish list, and get on with it. The latest Harpoon or even Exocet should be the easiest to install, and retain a meaningful number of weapons per ship.
The Harpoon elk 2+ will save the "decade or two", until fully replaced by FCASW, I agree. Low capability, low kill probability, but can do both anti-ship and anti-land in low-end warfare. Not bad, I think?
For the RN the main selling point for FCASW should be if it is supersonic, as that would give it a capability few western weapons have with the exception of the Hypersonic weapons the US is developing.
I shall point our ASM-3 series of Japan ... But, understand your point.
By the way, supersonic means less range if with similar warhead, or much much smaller warhead with the same range. Flying supersonic costs a lot. It's just like asking for a 40 knot frigate = you need to compromise weapons kits to do it (see LCS).
In fact for littoral warfare it might be better for the RN to look to a ship launched Venom variant to compliment the helicopter launched version.
Good point. With 30 kg warhead, it may not sink enemy warship. But, if with good imaging seeker and AI system, it may hit the radar, CIC, or main engine section, to "mission kill" enemy warship. That's one option. BUT, it does not work for I-SSGW, because developing a ship-launched SeaVenom with range extended to, at least, 100 km or so, may need a few years. If UK go this way, there will be a capability gap.
# By the way, let's imagine 32-sets (two sets of 16-cell launcher) of SeaVenom Mk.2 (30kg warhead, high-G maneuver, aim-at-critical-point capability, with 2-way data-link) carried on T23 and T45. Will be nice to see.