Vietnam has opted to buy Sigma Corvettes...in essence (and the info is from Wikipedia) they will have a more formidable warship than the US Navy will with Sigma's vs. our LCS'.
That sucks.
The Sigma is more heavily armed. Has greater endurance. Its slower but who cares. Seakeeping? No idea. But as it now stands with the exception of mission modules, aviation suites (and I'm guessing on that) speed...the Sigma is clearly superior.
I've been looking at the LCS class through the prism of how it can help the USMC (secondarily Special Ops Command). That might have been a mistake. If the ship can't perform its primary mission properly then secondary missions become irrelevant.
Perhaps its time to relegate the LCS-2 class to USMC/SOCOM support, and to just upgun and slow down LCS-1 class and make them proper frigates/corvettes.
UPDATE:
Unlike some, I will make a recommendation instead of simply criticize. What ship would I like to see the US Navy acquire instead of LCS? How about the Absalon class? Yes...Mike of New Wars fame is sitting somewhere saying I told ya so but he was ahead of his time.
Oh and if you simply want an off shore fighter then how about the Knud Rasmussen class OPV? Either way you're getting more combat power out the box than with the LCS plus you still have the option to still have your mission modules (thanks Forrest!)
