The resulting ship will be slightly slower and heavier, but the weapons will make enemies keep their distance, he said. Eventually, the Navy plans to build 40 of them. The difference is this: Alabama has better sigma and range on main guns. Some of the capabilities will be fitted onto existing ships, about two dozen of which are either in the fleet, under construction or under contract. The first over-the-horizon missile capable of hitting targets more than 50 miles away is to be installed this summer and it will be followed by tests of a second missile variant this fall, he said. But the threats have changed again with China flexing its muscle in the South China Sea and Russia reasserting its naval presence.ĭespite growing pains, Fanta sees the warships as being made more capable through heavier armor plating and shock mounting to make them sturdier, along with additional weapons. The Freedom class with a steel monohull is built in Marinette, Wisconsin, while the tri-hulled, aluminum Independence class is built in Mobile, Alabama.īoth were rushed into production to deal with unconventional post-Cold War threats including swarm boats and pirates. The Navy also intends to zero in on one design either next year or the following year, leading to cost savings.

Fanta said the Navy is learning from the initial deployments and incorporating changes into a new version which will be called a frigate.

Alabama armor world of warships