Why did the US Navy choose FREMM for its next frigate, and would a South Korean large destroyer be a better base?
Short answerThe choice favored a proven, low-risk ASW frigate; a larger South Korean design would answer a different requirement.
NotesThe US Navy's requirement emphasized low procurement risk after earlier acquisition difficulties. It demanded an adequate anti-submarine frigate already in service, allowing known faults and costs to be assessed before construction. FREMM met that test, whereas Type 26 offered a stronger purpose-built ASW emphasis but had not yet entered the water. A South Korean large destroyer would answer a different, cruiser-scale requirement from the frigate problem the navy had defined.