The Type 83 as an air-defence and ASW hybrid

Should the Royal Navy build a common ship combining Type 45 and Type 23 capabilities?

That broadly matches the Type 83 concept, though the proposal to build an enormous number of them is rejected. Uncrewed alternatives still need support ships and communications infrastructure.

A ship combining Type 45 air defence with Type 23 antisubmarine capabilities broadly matches the Type 83 concept described in the discussion. It would support Type 26 in antisubmarine work, provide air defence, and act as a drone mothership. Replacing that combination with small uncrewed vessels raises the question of what supports and coordinates them. Reliance on commercial satellites is criticized alongside insufficient military communications capacity. The same objection extends to the infrastructure needed to launch, sustain, and replace the satellites themselves.