If the US had decided to make one of these it would still be in the design phase. Mission creep would have expanded the scope of the requirements to where it cost 10x as much, displaced 4x times as much, could fight any kind of sea or littoral battle single-handed... And in the end, 10 years from now the Navy would get 3 of these that sort-of work. Well, just as soon as the block-xyz software is available...
Sadly you are right. Enough to make one weep
The basic design for this ship started in 1997. This particular ship was laid down in 2010 and has just been commissioned. You don't think the U.S. doesn't do better than that?