Frigates and destroyers may carry only one helicopter, or sometimes a pair. The ship therefore needs one airframe to handle anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, transport, and other duties during a deployment. A helicopter limited to troop transport would leave a serious gap when submarine or surface threats appeared. Accommodating that mission spread increases cost and design complexity. It also makes the aircraft a substantial part of the ship's combat capability and explains why Seahawk upgrades kept emphasizing flexibility.
Notable Point · 11:27-12:23
Why shipborne helicopters need broad missions
An escort may carry only one helicopter, so the aircraft must cover more than a narrow specialist role.