The most expensive in the worldCorvetteOne of them:Saudi Arabiaintroduced".Saudi ArabialevelLittoral combat ship, with a unit price of up to $2.8 billion. According to the agreement with the United States,Saudi ArabiaNavyFour ships will be introducedLittoral combat ship, which cost a total of $11.2 billion. This ** is almost equivalent to the purchase of seven 054A ships exported by ChinaCorvette, jaw-dropping. Such a high ** raises questions about how powerful is the combat power of such a ship?
However, in fact,Saudi ArabiaversionLittoral combat shipThe performance improvement is not huge. It'sDisplacementOnly more than 4,000 tons with China'sType 054A frigateFairly. In terms of armament, it is equipped with only 8 MK-41 vertical launch systems and 8 Harpoon anti-ship missile tilt launchers. In addition, it has a 57-mm main gun, several 12.7 mm machine gun and a 21-pack "Hiram" anti-aircraft missile launch system. Although the armament of this ship is not bad, the actual cost is not high. After all, contrast the United StatesBurke Type III destroyerThe cost of the Bath Steel Plant in the United States is $2.7 billion, while Ingalls Industries' is slightly higher, about $3 billion. Saudi ArabiaSpending so much money to buy a 4,000-ton ship is almost enough to buy a 10,000-ton drive.
Well, whySaudi ArabiaAlso to buy this ** expensiveLittoral combat shipWhat about it?There may be two reasons for the answer.
First of all,Littoral combat shipThe high-speed performance is well suitedSaudi ArabiaNavyneeds. Littoral combat shipIt has high speed and maneuverability, and is suitable for coastal defense and offshore patrols. Saudi ArabiaAs a coastal country with a vast coastline, it needs a team that can respond quickly and carry out tasksNavyStrength. So, buy this high speedLittoral combat shipMay doSaudi ArabiaNavystrategic needs.
Secondly, this ** purchase may also beSaudi ArabiaA strategy to strengthen relations with the United States. Saudi ArabiaIt has always maintained a close relationship with the United StatesMilitaryPartnerships, through the purchase of AmericanMilitaryequipment, which can further consolidate the relationship between the two countriesMilitaryPartnerships, for:Saudi ArabiaIt is also a stopgap measure. Buy thisLittoral combat shipProbably not just out of itMilitaryConsiderations of need are more likely to be political and strategic considerations.
Although this kindLittoral combat shipThe unit price is extremely high, but in fact, its performance is not relatively lowCorvetteBetter. Saudi ArabiaThe choice to buy such a ship may have been due to adaptationNavyneeds and considerations for strengthening relations with the United States. However, fromMilitaryAnd from a strategic point of view, whether it is cost-effective to buy such ** ships is still controversial. For other countries, it is more important to be satisfiedMilitaryAt the same time, the budget for military procurement is carefully calculated to achieve the optimal allocation of resources. After all, the price is $2.8 billionSaudi ArabialevelLittoral combat shipAnd not a ship that is widely considered successful, even the continental United States began to decommission ** of this type. ForNavyIn terms of equipment development and military procurement selection, it is crucial to balance the performance of the ship, the best and the actual needs.
In short, this kind of **Littoral combat shipSparked a lot of interest inMilitaryReflections on equipment costs and arms procurement decisions. By studying and analyzing various factors in depth, it can help us understand the country betterMilitaryThe logic and motivation behind the decision to equip it. I believe that with the advancement of science and technology andMilitaryWith the development of equipment, more new ships will come out one after another in the future, making greater contributions to the country's maritime industry.