Modern warships are expensive partly because research and development costs are spread across very small classes. The Type 45 example illustrates how cutting a planned class can inflate the apparent unit cost even when later hulls would have been cheaper to build. Extending an existing class also reuses its training system and support base. On that logic, buying more Type 26 and Type 31 or Type 32 frigates offers better value than opening a novel program, while a one-off battleship would carry an enormous development burden.
Chapter · 6:29-12:15
Why a modern battleship could never be a cheap shortcut
Development cost, production volume, and training infrastructure undermine claims that a battleship would offer an inexpensive alternative to carriers.