Uncrewed missile vessels attached to Type 45s appear to offer an easy increase in magazine depth. Once they fire, however, they must leave the task group, return to port, rearm, and come back through waters where they are easier to attack. Protecting that cycle may require extra escorts, while adding sonar or torpedoes creates another coordination burden. Building destroyers with adequate VLS capacity could cost less than operating and protecting a second fleet of missile barges.
Notable Point · 2:27:54-2:30:20
Uncrewed VLS barges still need escorts and resupply
Uncrewed VLS vessels add missiles, but rearming, vulnerable transit, and new escort demands complicate the apparent gain.