Mine warfare is moving toward mixed dedicated and modular forces

How should the Sandown class and older mine-warfare methods be replaced?

He expects mine warfare to move farther away from traditional ships, likely using a combination of dedicated mine vessels and modular packages carried by ships such as Type 31.

Mine countermeasures are moving away from the old model of a dedicated minesweeper doing everything itself. Some specialist ships are still likely to remain. Modular packages can also be placed on larger platforms such as Type 31. The mixed approach combines the value of specialization with the flexibility of deployable systems.