Why Type 31 should retain growth margin

Is Type 31 under-armed, and should a new frigate be filled with equipment from the outset?

A capable design should retain spare room for future systems so later upgrades do not require major removals.

Type 31's mobility and ability to enter smaller ports are useful for presence missions that larger combatants cannot perform as easily. Its design should not be judged only by the weapons carried at launch. Reserved volume and weight allow missiles, sensors, and other systems to be added as technology changes across a twenty- or thirty-year service life. The comparison between readily modernized Queen Elizabeth-class battleships and tightly packed R-class ships turns growth margin into a historical design lesson.