Arleigh Burke dominance and the burden of smaller allied fleets

Arleigh Burke destroyers already perform enough different tasks that a new frigate must justify its place beside an established production programme. It needs to perform its intended role more cost-effectively than the available Burkes. The expectation that retiring early Burkes will be replaced by more Burkes reflects the lack of another established production option. Earlier American frigates operated within much larger American and allied forces, which made narrower roles easier to sustain. A separate criticism holds that American encouragement of allied disarmament after the Cold War increased allied dependence without allowing adequately for the extra duties this would create. Reduced allied capacity consequently increases demands on the US Navy.