Unfortunately the MoD has too often gone for the phrase that I hate to see "Fitted For But Not With". The reason I want the maximum number of VLS launchers to be fitted, is because if this is not done in production phase, this usually requires dedicated refit time and thus impinges on ship availability.Tempest414 wrote: ↑23 Jan 2022, 10:57 The simple fact is all RN ships are under armed from the B2's all the way up to the carriers
Especially if RN moves towards Mk41 VLS, then have a huge potential choice of what missiles could fit to cover potential AAW/ASW/AsuW/Land Attack missions. Once the VLS launchers are actually fitted, it is a lot quicker to simply add new missiles when in dock, even if having to us allied stocks of the same mssiles in emergency.
I realise that missile costs will mount up and that certain missile types might only be able to be allocated on an as needed basis. It might be that if say a Type 31 GP Frigate was being deployed to Operation Kipion in the Persian Gulf, then may not need the very expensive long ranged AAW and ASM mssiles. But alternatively might then to choose to max out on LMM Martlett for anti-fast boat and CAMM for short ranged anti air missile and drones.