Just to add, it is not only about procurement costs. We also do not want to invest heavily in bigger ships because there loss will be a huge blow to moral. Also it will limit the numbers we are operating and thus any loss will seriously hamper the PN capabilities. The idea is to invest in medium frigates, equip them with better sensors and radars and get them in relatively higher number. Some of the options that we can go for offer EXCELLENT capabilities as well.
What need to be done is that even if we stay in the lower end of displacement limit, we should go for ships with much better AAW. This is one department that we seriously lack in. Chinese Type 54A are a great options. Also with Chinese rumored to be working on one HQ17, that is also likely to offer excellent AAW capabilities in future. Around 8 to 12 frigates with relatively similar capabilities (we will include F22P in this category as well even with its lack luster AAW capability. It will however make up the AShW or ASW arm) will meet our requirements. Achieve that target in the next decade or so together with a decent subsurface fleet, and then we can think about something bigger with even better AAW.