Electronic warfare, drones and warship stealth

Will drones and improved sensors push frigates towards electronic warfare instead of a strong emphasis on stealth?

Extensive electronic warfare is already built into warships, while a broader mix of threats could encourage accepting a larger radar signature to carry more firepower.

Warships already have substantial electronic-warfare capacity in their sensors, aerials, arrays and computers. Strong interference is presented as an important complication for a mass drone attack. Emitting heavily can also create a target for weapons that home on those emissions, so electronic defence has to be balanced against that risk. A mixed threat of drones, conventional anti-ship missiles and hypersonic weapons also complicates a design focused heavily on reducing radar returns. The possible response is to accept a less refined radar signature in exchange for more defensive firepower. That design change is offered as a possibility whose future adoption remains uncertain.