Constellation's mission list and the argument for an ASW priority

The class was defined for anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and electromagnetic warfare in blue-water and littoral settings, independently or in large formations. Anti-submarine warfare appears third in that list despite the Navy's concern about submarine threats. The critique treats the ordering and breadth of the missions as signs that the frigate's principal purpose had become unclear. Local self-defence and protection of nearby ships require less than conducting area air warfare over a larger space. Electromagnetic warfare is accepted as relevant to drone and missile-saturation threats. The alternative proposed is an ASW-first frigate with proportionate secondary weapons, rather than treating air warfare and ASW as equally demanding primary missions.