I think the only real problem with the Type 45 is there are only 6 of them. When the new carriers come on line the Navy will need at least 1 if not 2 of them to escort the a carrier every where the days of letting Lusty and Ocean wonder around on there own will be over. and if the Navy let the new carriers out with out an escort oh dear

There’s no contention that six are too few, but, we do need to recall that not every tasking a uk group deploys to will face an evolved air threat or will be one that we deploy on alone. Op Palliser off Sierra Leone wouldn’t have demanded an AAW escort. The coalition ops off Libya saw the navies of France, Spain and the U.S. deploy no fewer than seven area AAW capable escorts all told. In either case the absolute necessity to incorporate a Daring in the tailored task group is questionable. If you consider the new capability that Ceptor is supposed to be bringing as well the point must be made that the frigate force will shortly be able to do much more in air defence terms than has been the reality for the last few generations.