Aircraft providing air cover must leave station after firing their missiles and return for fuel, weapons, crew or maintenance. Replacement aircraft may be en route, but the interval before they arrive can expose a ship. This explains why nearby land-based aviation does not remove the need for shipboard air defense. The point is used to assess the Istanbul class's missile depth rather than to claim that a particular patrol would go unprotected.
Notable Point · 24:15-24:53
Why land-based fighter cover can leave gaps
Aircraft must leave station to rearm, making a frigate's own air-defense magazine relevant near friendly airbases.