From what i’ve read the intercooler and engines met the specification submitted by the UK MOD. Also the UK MOD utilised the WR-21 because it was British built instead of the recommended LM2500? Mention also of the need to make savings in the design.
The IEP system that RR/NG might have met the specification but clearly the reliability portion wasn't met. Yes, the WR-21 were favoured as they benefited British industry and it was the NG designed recuperation/intercooler component that was causing the problem. After a redesign of this component, it was not sufficiently tested. Furthermore, the diesel power plants were intended for hotel load, not propulsion.
If ASW is indeed the hot button item then maybe FREMM could be a real contender. If in fact it did win, I can just imagine the $hitstorm the Conservative opposition in Canada will create against junior's government after rejecting Fincantieri's unsolicited bid which was half the estimated cost of of what many expect the other vendor bids will be. I guess such a decision would make for interesting conversations in Australia too.
I agree given how large the helipad appears to be, that a container could likely fit with sufficient room for a helicopter or UAV to land & take off safely.
In just a few weeks. Slated to be announced this quarter.
FYI, Fincantieri made an unsolicited bid of $30 billion CDN for Canada's CSC program ( 15 ships) which was rejected. This is only a rough guide as the Sea 5000 and CSC programs could have significantly different priorities with regard to CONOPs
Part of this is because the cost for a piece of kit can be very difficult to determine, especially for something as complex as a warship and warship building programme.
Pricing can be deceptive since you don't really know what is being covered.
Training, personnel flexibility, commonality of parts, upgrade pathways etc mean there will be significant savings over the life of the ships if a common design is selected. I did post a link to a USNI News article which included comments about the operating advantages of the USN having 26 common San Antonio Class hulls around the world.
I think that should the PLA-N wish to make an act of more determined demonstration, it will more likely be against a peripheral entity, like Australia, rather than an action against a power like the USN.
Yea, USN recently sailed their Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier battle group with Singapore Navy in South China Sea while PLAN was having their 40 ships massive fleet parade come exercise with the President Xi onboard their Liaoning carrier.
