Why can’t we have nice things…

It is hard to look at our LCS and stillborn FFG program then see something like this. Check out this great overhead shot of the 6,600-ton Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate HDMS Niels Juel (F-363) of the Royal Danish Navy. Forward you have a pair of OTO Melara 76mm guns, while the amidships “missile deck” holds 16 Harpoon Block II cans, and a 32-cell Mark 41 VLS for SM-2 IIIAs, flanked by two 12-cell Mk.56 VLS for Enhances Sea Sparrows. Aft is a Oerlikon Millennium 35mm CIWS, overlooking the helo deck atop the hangar for an MH-60R Seahawk. Not seen are two pairs of MU90 Impact 324mm ASW torpedo launchers. The Harpoons are being replaced missile-per-missile with the NSM while her soft kill countermeasures (Terma Mk 137 130mm decoy launchers and Seagnat Mark 36 SRBOCs) are being augmented by the new Rheinmetall Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS). A great in-depth 45 minute doc on another Huitfield, HDMS Peter Willemoes, is here.