One proposal would fit a River-class hull with a 76 mm gun, Phalanx, and additional 30 mm weapons. That fit might improve resilience against drones or other higher-end non-state threats. It would also increase crew and integration demands. Visible armament can tempt decision-makers to treat the ship as a cheap frigate replacement and question spending on larger escorts. That prospect helps explain the reluctance to give patrol ships even the armament judged appropriate for changing threats. The hull still lacks quiet anti-submarine design and the ability to absorb combat damage while remaining afloat and operational.
Notable Point · 7:07-9:16
A larger gun does not turn a River into a frigate
The proposed 76 mm gun and close-in defenses might handle a higher non-state threat while leaving quiet ASW performance and combat survivability unchanged.