The War Zone reports what seemed obvious from the artists’ renderings, that the FF(x) derived from the National Security Cutter will not have any permanently installed vertical launch missile tubes,

“The initial flight of FF(X) will have a 57mm gun, 2 x 30mm guns, a Mk 49 Rolling Airframe Missile [launcher], various countermeasures, and a flight deck from which to launch helicopters and unmanned systems. Aft of the flight deck, there will be a flexible weapons system, which can accommodate containerized payloads (Counter-UAS, other missiles),” a Navy spokesperson told TWZ today. “Much like the successful DDG-51 [Arleigh Burke class destroyer] program, we are building this in flights. The frigate will be upgraded over successive flights to evolve and has the space reservations needed to improve capability over time.”

Members of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s crew remove a RIM-116 missile from a Mk 49 launcher during qualification trials.

I must admit, I missed the two 30mm guns, presumably Mk38 Mod4s.

A Revolution in Coast Guard Readiness:

There is reference to containerized, modular, or off-board unmanned systems operating from or in conjunction with the FF(X).

That sounds like the promises that accompanied the LCS, but if the Navy delivers on these systems, it could revolutionize the way the Coast Guard meets its military readiness mission. There are already mine counter measures and missile launching systems.

The Navy could maintain the mission modules and identify those who would operate and maintain them and simply assign them to Coast Guard units upon mobilization. The Coast Guard maintains and operates the platform while the Navy maintains and operates the payload.

Towed Arrays and helicopters is what I think about first, but it might include mine clearance if a US port may have been mined–don’t have to wait for a mine countermeasures ship to get there, just fly in the equipment and the crew, have them operate from a CG station or perhaps a buoy tender.

“USS Savannah (LCS 28) conducts a live-fire demonstration in the Eastern Pacific Ocean utilizing a containerized launching system that fired an SM-6 missile from the ship at a designated target. The exercise demonstrated the modularity and lethality of Littoral Combat Ships and the ability to successfully integrate a containerized weapons system to engage a surface target. The exercise will inform continued testing, evaluation and integration of containerized weapons systems on afloat platforms.”

Mk70 missile launchers could be flown to Alaska and mated to a cutter already in the area.