Crewed warships as leaders of uncrewed mini task groups

The forecast places each crewed warship at the center of a small group of uncrewed vessels supplying extra VLS cells, air defence, and sensors. A worked example combines one Defiant and four Burkes with twelve uncrewed sloops. Each Burke could monitor and maintain two, while the larger ship could support four. The resulting formation has five crewed ships and seventeen vessels overall; these are illustrative numbers, rather than an announced force package. Uncrewed craft would take on screening roles associated with World War II destroyer escorts, Flower-class corvettes, and River-class frigates. In that model, crewed frigates become leaders and destroyers move toward light-cruiser functions.