Modern frigates expose the missing low tier

Type 31, the Type 32 project, Constellation, and France's defence and intervention frigate all try to recover presence capacity below a navy's most capable surface combatants. Even these so-called light or general-purpose frigates displace roughly 4,500 to more than 7,000 tons because modern sensors, weapons, survivability, and accommodation consume space. The Royal Navy also expects Type 31 to reinforce a carrier force, preventing it from becoming a truly small presence ship. A 4,000-to-5,000-ton alternative becomes practical only with sustained orders of roughly a dozen at a time and a continuing replacement cycle. French emphasis on a striking silhouette adds diplomatic visibility to the design bargain, while the limited numbers planned by all three navies leave the lower tier thin.