International Frigate Working Group Held In Mayport

The Naval Sea Systems deputy commander for Surface Warfare (SEA 21) and commander, FFG 7 Class Squadron hosted an International Frigate Working Group May 12-15 in Mayport, Fla., that brought together all current operators of Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.

The meetings provided an opportunity for U.S. and allied partners to identify maintenance, obsolescence and logistics issues impacting the class and also present alternatives for sustainment and modernization programs.

Oliver Perry-class frigates are still an effective and capable asset in the fleet. The meeting allowed the U.S. Navy and its partners to review options to guarantee these ships remain combat relevant and cost-effective throughout their service lives.

"Having representatives from our allied partners together at one time was a valuable opportunity for sharing success stories and lessons learned about the class," said Rear Adm. James McManamon, deputy commander for surface warfare at Naval Sea Systems Command. "Working closely with our international partners is a key component of the U.S. Navy's global maritime strategy, and I look forward to similar discussions in the future."

The U.S. Navy currently operates 30 Perry-class frigates. As many as 10 will remain in service through 2019. A total of 33 Perry-class frigates are in use by allied navies, including Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Poland, Spain and Taiwan. All of these nations were represented at the meetings.

"Our partner navies have been doing a lot if work on these ships to keep them operating and relevant," said McManamon. "It was extremely interesting to see how they've worked through some of the modernization challenges."

Similar working groups are expected to take place in the coming years.

SEA 21 manages the complete life-cycle support for all non-nuclear surface ships and is the principal interface with the Surface Warfare Enterprise. The directorate is responsible for the maintenance and modernization of non-nuclear surface ships currently operating in the Fleet. Through planned modernization and upgrade programs, SEA 21 will equip today's surface ships with the latest technologies and systems to keep them in the Fleet through their service lives. Additionally, SEA 21 oversees the ship inactivation process, including transfers or sales to friendly foreign navies, inactivation and or disposal.

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