Dauntless's unidentified boxes and spare ship capacity

What might the new boxes spotted on HMS Dauntless contain, and why has the Ministry of Defence said little about them?

Several drone-related uses are suggested, but their purpose remains unconfirmed. Spare space and weight on the Type 45 make additions possible.

Dauntless's unidentified boxes could contain counter-drone equipment, a drone surveillance system, or small multipurpose drones. Their shape also prompts speculation about carrying ready drones and reloading them. None of these possibilities is established as the actual installation. Limited publicity is linked to a perceived Royal Navy preference for announcing equipment once it works in service. Reserved space and weight aboard the Type 45 allow equipment to be added without first removing an existing capability. That margin is said to have existed even if the ships had received their maximum VLS fit from the beginning.