Missile threats do not remove the need for surface warships

Will stand-off weapons and saturation attacks push navies away from surface ships and toward submarines?

No. Submarines cannot replace surface ships in escort, formation defence, presence, and visible power-projection roles.

Submarines excel at stealthy strike and sea denial, but they cannot visibly reassure allies, conduct naval diplomacy, or provide the same defensive screen for convoys and carriers. Predictions of aircraft and missiles ending the surface fleet date back to the 1920s. The naval response is to build surface ships with the sensors, magazine depth, and defences needed for evolving threats.