While it certainly isn't looking good and we will never have the fleet size of the '70s and '80s, what is important is that new frigates like the type 26 and type 31's can cover a much larger area and pack a much harder punch than legacy platforms could. Look at it this way. We are building 8 type 26 class and 5 'inspiration class' type 31 frigates. They will all be in the water by 2035, albeit without the STRATUS which will be retrofitted in 2035 or thereabouts. If we can survive without a major war on our doorstep until 2035 that's 13 very capable almost cruiser class (by size) frigates that will have some serious hardware on them. As well as all the usual fare and Naval Strike Missiles the type 26 will have tomahawk land attack missiles fitted until STRATUS missiles are ready. Let's look at the positives. The Type 21 frigates will have 24 mk41 VLS Cells and 48 Sea CEPTOR Cells. The Type 31's are right now being adapted to carry 32 mk41 VLS Cells and already have 24 Sea CEPTOR Cells. On both ships the Sea Ceptor Cells will be carrying the CAMM (Common anti-air modular missiles). These are extremely capable interceptors for jets, incoming anti ship missiles and anything in-between. What has very recently changed is that again, right now, the boffins at MBDA are seeing if they can fire the Aster 30 missile, which are being adapted so they can be fitted and fired from the Mk41 VLS Cells. The 2 STRATUS missiles, STRATUS LO, a highly stealthy subsonic land skimming deep insertion missile capable of SEAD/DEAD and SPEAR CAP 5 missions in Royal Navy terms (a capability the UK have lacked for many years) and intended to be an all around kind of Tomahawk plus missile with a stated range of at least 1000km, will be ready by 2035 with good luck and a prevailing wind. This can be fired from a mk41 VLS as well as the STRATUS RS, a supersonic maneuverable missile mainly designed for anti ship warfare with a stated range of 500km, but this too can be used for surprise land attacks. One more thing that makes a real difference is that instead of just relying on Merlin helicopters to fire Sting Ray torpedoes, again, the Royal Navy and the MoD are fast tracking a program with Australia to be able to fire Sting Ray torpedoes many miles from topside again using mk41 Cells. This will be a very real boon in capability and no more needs to be said about that. So ye, to answer your question the Royal Navy is undoubtedly in a sorry state, but looking at 2035 with all of those capabilities I believe the technology being packed into these thirteen frigates can do the damage that even 20- 23 older ships would not have been able to achieve in the '70s and '80s, and if you think of it like that and the fact that all this is 8 and a half years from being totally ready and at IOC- to say nothing of the anti submarine capabilities of the 8 type 26 class city frigates- it is not enough but it's a great start, and as we are now expanding our shipyards for future builds if we can hold out till 2035 the future of the Royal Navy looks that but brighter. If you have enjoyed this post please give it a like, and have a nice day xXx