The mission bay is growth margin rather than a promise that every vacant area will receive weapons. If operational experience eventually values magazine depth more than modular payloads, the space could support a different fit. A Chinook-capable flight deck and the surrounding handling arrangements preserve flexibility beyond missile capacity alone. The design leaves those choices open instead of forcing one answer at launch.
Notable Point · 28:17-29:18
Mission-bay flexibility versus permanent armament
The Type 26 mission bay gives later planners a choice between flexible payloads and more fixed capability, including a possible expansion of missile capacity.