NavSea has issued an RFI for something that looks a lot like an Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), to be procured under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

“This Request for Information (RFI) N00024-11-R-2217 is being issued in anticipation of a potential future procurement program for the Republic of the Philippines. The Naval Sea Systems Command is conducting market research to determine the existence of a general purpose Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) …”

This is a bit old, having been issued on May 6, 2011 (only four days after the issuance of the draft OPC specifications) with a June 3, 1011 response deadline, but I only just stumbled across it here. The Philippines would like to have the ship assembled in country, but that is a question to be addressed by the contractors. If the program follows the pattern I have seen in other countries, the lead ship would be built here and the follow-ons in the Philippines. A multi-ship buy is expected, but the number is not specified and subject to change.

Considering that there is the possibility of extensive similarities to the Offshore Patrol Cutter program, you might assume this was discussed with the Coast Guard, but I have my doubts. After all, the Philippines might want to participate in the OPC program since a large order quantity is likely to drive down cost.

The specifications require “The vessel must be new construction, but derived from a proven hull design previously built by the contractor.” (That sounds like the ship yard would not be allowed to use a design previously built by a different contractor.) (revision: this was changed to: “The vessel must be new construction, but derived from a proven hull design.”)

The specifications are also remarkably specific, not only in performance, but also in dimensions.

• a. Overall Length: At least 80 meters (NTE 10%)
• b. Beam: At least 10.5 meters (NTE 10%)
• c. Displacement (full load): At least 1,000 tons (NTE 10%)

If, as I suspect, the “(NTE 10%)” means “Not To Exceed” then it is also setting maximums, so:

• length: 80 to 88 meters (262.4 to 288.64′)
• beam: 10.5 to 11.55 (34.45 to 37.9′)
• full load displacement: 1,000 to 1,100 tons

I have done an extensive literature search, and I cannot find an OPV 80 meters or longer, with a full load displacement <= 1,100 tons. The closest I got in terms of tonnage was the Israeli SA’AR 5 corvettes, not really an OPV, but the hull might be used:

• 85.64 meters long
• 11.88 meter beam (10.3 at the waterline)
• 1,227 tons full load

By way of comparison the dimensions for the 270 and 210 are:

• WMEC 270
• 82.3 m long
• 11.58 m beam
• 1,780 tons

and

• WMEC 210
• 60.96 m
• 10.36 m
• 1,000 tons

Specifications include:

• helo deck for a seven ton helicopter (but a hanger was not specified).
• speed => 20 knots
• Endurance of 3,500 miles at a cruise speed of at least 14 knots and storage for 30 days supplies.
• Mixed crew accommodations for 75 including a flag officer, 14 other officers and three civilians.
• “The ship will be equipped with two 11 meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RIBs) capable of being quickly launched from a stern ramp.” This sounds a lot like L’Adroit  (87 m x 11 m, 1,450 tons), and seems to be driven by a desire to use the ships for small scale amphibious operations–landing perhaps a platoon.
• “Propulsion System shall be two main diesel engines with fixed pitch propellers.” This degree of specificity is hard to understand, considering the many alternatives available, particularly the advantages of variable pitch props.

The Combat Systems requirement are quite extensive for an OPV of this size including:

• 76 mm gun
• 25 mm gun.
• “Surveillance and acquisition radar capable of 3D surveillance and acquisition radar that meet OPV requirements for combat surface and air defense search
• “IFF ability to differentiate and friendly units from unknowns
• “Radar fire control system to provide data to 76mm gun and 25mm gun systems trained at the same target
• “Electro Optical Fire Control System for the 76mm and 25mm gun systems
• “Electronic Support measures for the passive listening capability for selected radar laser and infrared warning devices and communications signals from land, air and sea with the OPV battle space
• “Ship should have space available for the future growth for SAM (Surface to Air Missile), SSM (Surface to Surface Missile) and ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) as well as towed array sonar equipment”

The list of  “Interested Vendors”  includes:

• Derecktor Shipyards Conn., LLC, that recently built an 85 meter yacht that might provide a basis. They have fallen on hard times. Derecktor, Rhode Island, which built the last nine WMEC 270s is now out of business.
• BAE that offers both 90 and 81.5 meter OPVs and through their BAE Australia subsidiary was builder of New Zealand’s ice strengthened OPVs “Otago“ and “Wellington,”
• VT Halter Marine, a division of ST Engineering of Singapore, which recently delivered the first of four missile corvettes to Egypt.

Sure looks like they have something very specific in mind, particularly since they gave less than a month to make a response.