A force of small missile vessels still needs radar mounted high enough to support the intended air-defence task. If only one ship supplies that radar, losing it can deprive the whole group of the information needed to coordinate its missiles. The proposed alternative centres on medium general-purpose combatants with their own useful capabilities. Uncrewed supporting vessels could add missiles or ASW capacity around them. A Type 26 coordinating a group of uncrewed escorts provides an example of how a future mass escort force might work. This is a prediction about a possible force structure, with geography and sea conditions limiting what very small fast combatants can achieve.
Notable Point · 2:19:19-2:21:09
Distributed missile ships still need sensors and command
Dividing missiles among small ships leaves a concentrated vulnerability if only one vessel carries the radar and command capability needed to use them.