Re: Lodamun
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 2:06 am
Following a brief streak of little to no news related to the Lodamese Navy’s vaunted shipbuilding programme, the Defence Procurement Administration (DPA) announced via a press release yesterday that it had approved the awarding of a contract to construct the LN’s future class of frigates to Cowgill-Masterson Maritime Engineering, therein propelling the once closely guarded designs into the public domain. The contract, which has been valued by the Office of Fiscal Management (OFM) at around 14 billion LOD, represents the second major shipbuilding announcement following the commencement of the navy’s destroyer programme. The DPA noted that the evaluation process had been complicated owing to issues surrounding Cowgill-Masterson’s adherence to a core stipulation of the initial RFP (request for proposals) sent out to the various shipbuilding companies. The integration of the Aegis Combat System (developed by the Defence Research Agency) had been identified as an imperative of the entire project, with the contract noting that failure to integrate the Aegis Combat System into existing designs would ultimately result in a proposal’s automatic rejection. In Cowgill-Masterson’s initial design, although it had integrated the combat system, it left little room for future hardware upgrades. In rejecting its initial design, the DPA reportedly concluded that upgrades for the Aegis Combat System and its accompanying AESA required both hardware and software modifications. Nonetheless, the company’s new design was ultimately selected by Navy and DPA procurement officials. Cowgill-Masterson’s design, codenamed AFC - Advanced Frigate Class, is largely based on an existing design operating out of the Istalian Navy. It is said that Cowgill-Masterson maintains a working relationship with the Istalian shipbuilding firm Fazzolari. The company noted that based on the relative success of the programme, its collaboration with other Istalian firms is likely to be expanded. In a via release following the DoD announcement, Cowgill-Masterson stated that the vessel’s design was fit for purpose, per the recommendations of the DPA, and represented a new dynamic in shipbuilding within Lodamun. “This vessel is by far, the most advanced piece of equipment ever developed in Lodamun. The AFC will enable the Lodamese Navy to augment its existing efforts to enhance its command of the maritime domain beyond the bounds of the Lodamese Coast Guard. This ship is designed to work alongside various pieces of equipment with the sole aim of enhancing the user’s capabilities. In line with the Navy’s superior firepower doctrine, this vessel is in every aspect, designed to be a destroyer in everything but name,” the press statement read.
As part of the contract, Cowgill-Masterson would be expected to construct 15 frigates as part of the initial order whereafter a secondary assessment would be conducted by the Navy wherein the DPA would either terminate its contract with the company or continue to request additional orders on a per-request basis. The contract reportedly includes numerous subcontractors whom Cowgill-Masterson is expected to work alongside in bringing the project to its completion. These include Harrington Dynamics Maritime Systems, Carlyle Defence and Lewis & Ingraham International who will be responsible for developing and introducing new technology and equipment to be utilised on the ships. Harrington Dynamics, the developer of the AEGIS defence system has noted that although its involvement largely revolves around sensors and radar arrays, the company has been granted the ability to construct an entire frigate from keel to finished product. On armaments, which is expected to be born out of a joint collaboration between Fazzolari and L&I International, the vessel is being oriented to fill a specific role within future maritime doctrine: anti-missile and air defence. According to the DPA, although the vessel would be equipped with armaments which would enable it to carry out offensive operations (i.e. cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles and an impressive main gun), its principal role when working alongside other vessels would be air defence. “Cowgill-Masterson has noted that this class of frigate is going to be a destroyer in all but name. Whilst it is somewhat of a true statement, a more accurate assessment would conclude that it is in every essence an anti-air frigate responsible for providing an additional layer of AA cover for fleet formations.” Nicolas Roberson, the DPA’s Project Manager for the AFC programme. Construction on the vessels is expected to begin within the next coming months as the contract stipulates that the vast majority of the vessels would have to be constructed within Lodamun albeit at different shipyards throughout the country.