Hull size is only one part of a modern warship's price. Electronics also need cooling, vibration protection and continued maintenance, so extra internal volume does not remove the cost of a dense combat system. A ship can cover many roles, but demanding first-class performance in all of them produces a very large and expensive design. A later answer estimates about two years for the basic build of a roughly 10,000-ton ship, while noting that Type 26 proceeds slowly because it is more complex. The useful distinction is between steelwork, systems integration and the industrial schedule chosen for the class.
Notable Point · 1:59:58-2:00:10
Why a larger hull does not make a modern warship simple
Modern warship cost comes from combat-system density and integration as well as steel, while programme pace can differ from the time needed to assemble a hull.