The proposed battery contains enough mature equipment, especially Mark 41 VLS, that experimental weapons need not determine whether the ship remains useful. If the lasers or railgun arrive late, a substantial existing armament would still be available. This is presented as a favorable contrast with the Zumwalt experience: delays to the new weapons would not by themselves require cancellation of the whole class.
Notable Point · 44:49-45:19
Mature weapons keep lasers and railguns off the critical path
Standard launchers and guns could let the class remain useful even if its headline laser and railgun technologies arrive late.