Combined with this article, it gives us interesting suggetions.
https://www.navylookout.com/hms-echo-re ... apability/
For me, it is
- resource is limited, not only money but also skilled man-power (non-skilled man power shortage looks like relaxed a bit).
- but minister wants to add offensive weapons on RN ships (which needs money (purchase and maintenance/logistics) and skilled man-power)
Mixing these two items, one answer comes into my mind.
Why not
LESS number of hulls but fully armed with offensive weapons in addition to defensive ones ?
1: Putting HMS Echo in "reserve" provides precious 72 crews to be used in other assets. It also clearly exemplifies that RN lacks resources. Although bad thing, I think it is a right selection within current limited resource.
2: In future, do we really need FIVE T31? Why not four or even THREE? Three T31, with simple armament and new/fresh hull may be able to provide sea-going days as long as those provided from 5 T23GPs they ought to replace.
Exporting two of them in build (Poland, Indonesia, Chilli, Brazil, or even NZ), to make up a 3-hull T31 fleet? On paper, this will free-up £800M (2/5 of the total £2Bn cost), but export sales does not include developnmnt cost in general (see French export sales), then it will be £500-600 (so-called "£200M each" (excluding SeaCeptor) + SeaCeptor for 2 hulls). At the same time, it free-ups more than 200 crew. If with this £500-800M and 200 crew, many can be done:
2a: increase T26's CAMM by a factor of 4 by adopting ExLS, from 48 to 196 (may even include CAMM-ER). Of course it takes money and additional man-power, but at least the latter won't be large because it is just increasing the number of existing system.
2b: Pay for the T45 "24 CAMM" (or even increase it) and even enable adapting Mk.41 VLS. Of course it takes money and additional man-power. If including BMD, I'm afraid this "plan-2b" only exceeds the "£500-800M", but 100-150 of the crew will remain. They can provide HMS Echo (or its successor) back at sea, enable River B1 replacements, and MCM mother ships.
2c: Obviously, I-SSGW can happen, even 10-15 systems? (needs money and man-power, of course)
2d: All the T31 up-arming and River B2 up-arming discussions can take place.
Just a proposal ...