One proposed future equivalent of the Flower-class escort is an uncrewed or minimally crewed vessel about the size of a River-class offshore patrol vessel. Its suggested equipment includes torpedoes, uncrewed aircraft, and towed-array sonar, with possible self-defence weapons. A small crew could supervise automated systems and maintain watches, but that would not give the ship the full range of a crewed patrol vessel's peacetime missions. A capable frigate at roughly the Type 26 level would remain the centre of the force around which these smaller escorts operated. This is a forecast about a possible fleet mix, with limits on substituting automation for the range of tasks a larger crew can perform.
Notable Point · 21:01-22:27
Small uncrewed ASW escorts would still need capable frigates
A proposed minimally crewed anti-submarine escort could add numbers while depending on a capable frigate and accepting narrower peacetime duties.