A 20,000-ton navy built around modular ships

How could a modern navy be built with only 20,000 tons available?

He would favor roughly ten enlarged, helicopter-capable Niels Juel-type ships with modular equipment, giving a small fleet useful flexibility for air defense, mine warfare, drones, and other missions.

The options include Type 31s, Khareef-class ships, and the Danish Niels Juel concept, with a modified modular hull offering the best balance. Three Type 31s would be individually capable but leave the fleet vulnerable whenever one ship was unavailable. Ten smaller modular ships distribute presence and can be configured for limited air defence, mine warfare, or other missions. Enlarging the chosen design to about 2,000 tons adds a helicopter hangar, giving the small fleet aviation reach without sacrificing the numerical resilience that made the concept attractive.