The Legend-class National Security Cutter sits at the upper edge of the OPV category and has some capacity for rapid improvement. A realistic combat conversion would be closer to a corvette than a full frigate. Reaching farther would require cutting the deck and reorganizing internal systems. Extra power generation, power and data cables, command consoles, radar interfaces, balance calculations, and weapon calibration amount to rebuilding much of the ship. Once conversion reaches that scale, constructing a purpose-designed vessel can require less work and time.
Notable Point · 41:22-44:22
Legend-class conversion can approach a new build
Legend-class National Security Cutters could reach corvette-like capability, but a deeper frigate conversion would require so much internal reconstruction that a new ship may be quicker.