Why a cruiser offers more than an arsenal ship

Why build a cruiser instead of an arsenal ship?

A cruiser combines missile depth with independent sensors, aviation, defense, and peacetime presence roles.

An arsenal ship is principally a large missile magazine dependent on other platforms for sensing and command. Once designers add independent sensors, the teams to support them, guns, helicopters, and defensive systems, the ship has moved toward being a cruiser. That versatility lets a cruiser conduct presence visits, naval diplomacy, conflict management, and independent operations as well as deliver missiles. A true missile truck would need far more than 192 cells - on the order of several hundred - to justify giving up those wider roles.