Constellation and the difficulty of retaining a high-low fleet mix

The procurement argument is that navies need capable major combatants alongside less expensive ships available in greater numbers. If buying a cheaper vessel threatens funding for the more capable type, a navy has an incentive to buy only the expensive ships and accept a smaller fleet. The June 2024 example is the American adaptation of the French-Italian FREMM design for the Constellation class. Expected design commonality is put at 85 percent, falling to 15 percent as American requirements changed equipment, layout, operation, and crewing. The example connects fleet size to the difficulty of keeping a supposedly economical design close to its starting point.