StanFlex offers its greatest gains on light frigates and small ships, though carriers could still benefit. Six or eight positions on a Queen Elizabeth-class hull could exchange Sea Ceptor, close-in weapons, or 76 mm guns according to the anticipated threat and flight-deck constraints. The case for adopting the system at the time of recording remains uncertain. Beginning in the 1980s would have allowed the supporting infrastructure to develop with the ships, addressing easier frigate upgrades and better protection for auxiliaries. Early British adoption would make Dutch participation likely in this scenario. British-Dutch-Danish cooperation could then attract other navies through the partners' shipbuilding reputations and their existing links in NFR-90, the trilateral frigate project, and Horizon.
Notable Point · 1:09:05-1:12:20
Carrier defence and why early adoption matters
Six or eight carrier module positions could provide flexible local defence, while early adoption would let the supporting infrastructure develop across successive ship designs.