The cited NATO assessment recognizes major qualitative gains in shipborne aircraft and surface missiles. It also credits improved anti-submarine detection, command and control, electronic warfare, and quieter submarines. Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines and the Trident system strengthened the strategic force. Its warning is equally important: high construction costs produced a trend toward less-than-one-for-one replacement. NATO could therefore field better individual systems while losing the hull numbers needed to cover simultaneous missions and absorb losses.
Notable Point · 23:48-24:54
Modern quality versus shrinking replacement rates
NATO gained better aircraft, missiles, detection systems, electronic warfare, quieter submarines, and Trident boats, but expensive ships drove less-than-one-for-one replacement.