The guide also casts doubt on the socalled future surface combatant, a new generation of warship for the 2020s and beyond.

In the later 20th century, the obsolescence of the battleship left the cruiser as the largest and most powerful surface combatant.

All its diesel-electric submarines were decommissioned in 1992 and more surface combatants left the fleet.

It typically consists of 5 to 10 surface combatants (naval ships), 1 to 2 auxiliary ships and 2 to 4 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

A submarine can likewise monitor surface combatants by floating the tail of its array above a thermal layer while lurking below.