Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[SLXOwft]

I would think it comes down to layered defence but the P-8s would have to be in the right place at the right time.

The helicopter extends the range of detection and engagement from the ship; before advertising its presence with active sonar a single aircraft (rather than a screen of multiple aircraft) requires a strong certainty about the rough location of the threat. The active sonar then gives (hopefully) more accurate targeting information with out disclosing the exact position of the ship to the submarine/UUV. My envisaged situation is a ship out of Bahrain in the enclosed waters of the Gulf being threatened by a hostile state or a non-state party supplied with a UUV by such a state where the hostile party is aware of the general position of the ship so pinging doesn't significantly increase the risk.