Q&A ยท 6:22:09-6:23:18

Fast attack craft armed with Naval Strike Missiles

Small missile craft could serve coastal partners or become uncrewed shooters distributed around larger warships.

Question

Is there a place in modern Royal Navy or US Navy force structure for fast attack craft carrying four Naval Strike Missiles?

Short answer

Potentially, particularly as an uncrewed distributed shooter or an exportable coastal-defense craft for partner navies.

Notes

Small craft carrying four Naval Strike Missiles are proposed as useful uncrewed assets. An export role would suit partners vulnerable to seaborne attack, while the United States generally expects to fight away from its own coast. Larger ships could also deploy such craft as additional shooters in a surrounding flotilla of uncrewed assets. Norway's Skjold class provides the comparison with small, heavily armed vessels operating among islands and coastal waters.