Cyberattack, hypersonic missiles, submarines, small drones, and earlier torpedo boats have each been presented as a threat that makes every warship obsolete. Navies often possess counters, but economy measures leave ships fitted for those systems rather than equipped with them. Type 45's Phalanx fit is contrasted with the additional 76 mm guns carried by the related French and Italian Horizon ships. Fragmenting shells can scatter metal across an area and engage inexpensive drones cheaply at useful range. One suggested explanation for the French and Italian fit is that Italy insisted on retaining the guns in their joint project. The example questions the savings from omitting an available counter to a threat.
Chapter · 38:23-40:48
Recurring threat panics and counters left ashore
Drones, hypersonic missiles, cyberattack, submarines, and earlier torpedo boats illustrate a recurring cycle in which a dramatic threat is treated as the end of the fleet.