Recurring claims that drones, hypersonic missiles, or air-bubble torpedoes will make warships smaller and cheaper are rejected here. Torpedo boats did not eliminate larger combatants. The weapons needed to counter them helped increase those ships' size and cost. The LCS and Royal Navy's Black Swan concept are cited as attempts to obtain smaller, cheaper ships that failed to deliver the expected result. Drone operations would require room for servicing and sustaining the aircraft or vessels, with additional personnel needing accommodation at least initially. The proposed future fleet places uncrewed escorts around crewed ships resembling cruisers, with no expectation that the crewed ships become smaller or cheaper.
Notable Point · 1:03:27-1:06:08
Drone operations still require space aboard crewed ships
Servicing drones and accommodating their support personnel underpin a prediction of large crewed ships surrounded by uncrewed escorts.