Deterrence changes the force-structure question

How does the line that war is costly compare with today's conflicts and the stream topic?

War is costlier than deterrence, so navies should ask what force posture deters conflict as well as what force can fight one.

Naval forces need to be planned for deterring a conflict as well as fighting one. The two missions can require somewhat different force structures, and the argument here is that a navy usually needs both. Deterrence receives less attention because preventing a war produces few visible honours and politicians tend to claim the credit. Warship-design decisions therefore need an explicit question about what will discourage conflict before the costs of fighting it arise.