The Surface Combatant Reset: What Italy’s DDX Destroyer Breakthrough and the ASWF Frigate Redesign Tell Us About Future Warship Hull Architecture
The global naval domain is undergoing a massive structural reset. For over 30 years, surface combatant design prioritized sleek profiles, reduced radar cross-sections, and moderate-displacement hulls tuned for deep-ocean, blue-water endurance. However, the rapid emergence of hypersonic threats, high-volume uncrewed attack swarms, and high-energy defensive systems has pushed legacy hull forms to their absolute physical…