LCS Derived Frigate?

With the recent announcement that the Lockmart version Littoral Combat Ship has been canceled by the Navy and given the many troubles with the DDX program, this proposal from General Dynamics for an improved version of their LCS design is seriously intriguing.

I find it interesting that there is no upgrade from the 57mm gun.

Now the big AGS is right out as it it weighs as much as some battleship guns, but its little brother, the lightweight 5"62 would seem to be a good thing for a frigate to have as it will out-range the netfires missiles the LCS is to be fitted with. Perhaps the hull can't handle a larger one.

Indeed, this seems to be little more than a very slightly modified LCS with the maximum viable weapons fit.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the combination of AEGIS, and VLS tubes on a slightly modified LCS hull looks to be a relatively risk free approach and could be a good way of giving the USN the numbers it will need to replace older ships as they wear out.

This would seem to deserve considerable attention.

UPDATE: Fixed links, added ill informed commentary.