But AMRAAM might be able to engage cruise missiles? Submarine launched threats are surely best dealt with by anti submarine capabilities?
On this day in 1982, HMS Sheffield was hit by an air launched Exocet.
If the approaching aircraft had been detected by AEW (which we didn't have) and had Sea Harriers vectored on to them, they probably would have abandoned the attack. If nothing else there would have been more warning, allowing a better response from the task force.
But someone had decided that unexpected events would not happen....