For exactly the reason that you suggest, namely in order to achieve the same capability current RN/RFA assets need to be combined. When compared to a single Point derived FLSS, a Fort Victoria & Bay combination is a very expensive alternative.Repulse wrote:....the point I’m making is we already have two platforms that when combined can already do what the FLSS is expected to do (and probably more), plus are assets that add to the war fighting capability of the RN; why do we need the FLSS?
The value of the FLSS is how it could work with current RN/RFA vessels rather than compete against them. That interoperability will be crucial if the Littoral Strike Group is ever to become reality. It has to be scalable, proportionate and cost effective for limited deployments in low threat environments and I think the Prevail proposal achieves that.
The part I have always been uncomfortable with is how the FLSS then slots into a Littoral Strike Group. The whole concept of forming a group around a vessel that can only embark 4 Merlins seems flawed from the outset IMO. If the LSG is scalable up to the point were multiple FLSS are combined within the Group then the concept begins have more merit.