The Burke benchmark can shape requirements for smaller surface combatants. A frigate judged by how closely it matches Burke risks accumulating cost and complexity until another destroyer appears an easier purchase to justify. Constellation is treated in this comparison as an example of that problem. The National Security Cutter-based frigate proposal is interpreted as an attempt to establish a lower comparison baseline. The force-structure argument is for judging frigates by their distinct duties rather than expecting each to reproduce Burke capabilities.
Notable Point · 1:31:25-1:33:18
Frigate requirements must escape the Burke comparison
The Burke benchmark can inflate frigate requirements until the smaller ship becomes an awkward miniature destroyer instead of a distinct force-structure tier.