Why an armed unmanned surface vessel still needs a substantial hull

What is the smallest size and weapon package for a viable armed unmanned surface vessel?

A credible armed design is likely to grow toward roughly 1,500 to 2,000 tons once fuel, weapons, sensors, communications, command-and-control equipment, and electrical power are included.

The panel starts from an announced thousand-ton large unmanned surface vessel and expects operational requirements to increase its displacement. Endurance demands fuel, while a worthwhile patrol or strike mission demands enough weapons to justify carrying that fuel. Sensors, communications, command-and-control equipment, and electrical generation then consume additional volume and weight. Very small ocean drones can act as remote sensor nodes, but adding a useful weapon load pushes the design into a different category. Removing crew does not remove the naval-architecture burden created by combat systems and range.