The competition sought to reduce risk by selecting a parent design that already existed in working form. The Legend-class National Security Cutter was proposed in patrol-frigate form but was considered insufficiently warlike for the requested mission. The critique links that rejection to the attempt to combine escort duties with close-in littoral work, which brought demands for more ship and firepower. Spain's Álvaro de Bazán class already carried Aegis and appears a plausible match in this comparison, although reputation and size were suggested obstacles. The MEKO A-200 offered many configurable options, which could also complicate decisions over systems and suppliers. Freedom and Independence derivatives carried the reputation of the LCS program. FREMM emerged from a field of functioning ships with different equipment, mission priorities, and adaptation risks.
Chapter · 24:50-28:32
The parent-design competition offered several kinds of risk reduction
The FFG(X) contestants ranged from an American cutter and LCS derivatives to established European frigates with very different strengths.