SeaRam carriers 11 missiles.
Ram carries 21.
As the details come out, I have to say it looks like they will have no VLS, and therefore no ESSM or any longer range anti-air capability.
They are calling the SeaRAM an upgrade because of its standalone capability with the Phalanx targeting...but IMHO, this only means they are avoiding the cost of longer range air engagement sensors and limiting their magazine to the 11 missiles. Completely inadequate for anything other than very close-in defense of the vessel itself...and then still limited to the one launcher and 11 missiles.
I am dissappointed.
It is good that they are getting the other things standard, like the eight ASMs which will be OTH, the TAS, the two probable Mk 38 mod 2 weapons or something like it, etc. The OTH ASM missiles mentioned are Harpoons which is fine for now...but does not build in the longer term capability an Mk-41 would have given (like for LRASM).
So, these new SSCs will be multi-role out of the chute, they will be able to do the ASW mission, and will be able to engage adequately peer surface combatants, and will have fair close-in anti-air self defense capabilities. But they will not have any medium range anti-air and so no layered coverage or ability to defend anything they escort in terms of AAW.
When you compare these for example to the OHP FFGs of their day, those vessels did have a layered defense with both Standard Missiles and Phalanx, they fired Harpoon missiles, had a 76mm gun and the ASW capabilities.
For a comparitive look, the SSC is a pretty big step back from the OHP in terms of basic functionality and capability. Better than what the LCS would have been...but still short of the mark IMHO. I suppose they will retrofit the ASMs and some of the other capabilities (outside of whatever hardening and strengthening these vessels will have as they are built for the heavier combat capabilities) to the existing LCS vessels...but they could have always done that.
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