Why a joint US-UK destroyer is difficult

Should the US Navy and Royal Navy collaborate on an Arleigh Burke replacement?

Only after reconciling different crewing requirements and automation standards.

The Royal Navy and many NATO fleets automate heavily because their personnel pools and budgets cannot support American crew sizes. An Astute-class submarine has roughly 98 people, compared with about 135 in a Virginia; the difference multiplies across a twelve-boat fleet and its training establishment. For a smaller navy, hundreds of extra sailors at sea imply thousands across the wider personnel system. A shared warship cannot succeed until the partners agree which crewing and maintenance philosophy the design must serve.