ORIGINAL: LORDPrometheus
Not news but an opinion. Looking at the FFG-X program I am convinced the winner will be the legend class derived patrol frigate. The independence derivative will be unable to mound hull sonar due to its water jets same as the independence class. The Alvaro de bazan class is too short range and already took expensive for the programs price cap so even removing aegis would put it too high over the price when the other changes are considered. FREMM is a potential candidates but simply put too big at 6700 tons. Only the legend class derivative is built in the us has the range required fits the size wanted and can be made for the right price
FFG(X) has no requirement for a hull sonar, the Independence derivative doesn't use water jets, there is no size requirement listed, and the range of the de Bazan is 4500nm at 18 knots compared to the Burke's range of 4400nm at 20 knots. The last Frigate concept HII displayed (PF 4921) had a range of 8000nm at around 10 knots, and had only a fraction of the sensors and weapons specced for FFG(X). The base NSC also already costs around $750m with its austere sensor and weapons fit - around $100m more than an LCS.