Modern warships are power plants and data centres at sea

Sensitive sensors collect faint returns amid large amounts of clutter. Computing power separates those returns from background signals and turns them into useful tracks and firing solutions. Larger warships can carry more sensors, processing equipment, and electrical generation, which helps them detect threats farther away. A modern warship is therefore much like a power plant and data centre inside a seagoing hull, with its visible weapons dependent on that infrastructure. Earlier detection and mutual support are treated as continuing lessons from the Second World War.