a 500 sqmiles area is roughly a distance from the ship of approximately 22 nautical miles. This is less than the SM-2 that were carried on the Oliver-Hazard Perry class and provides minimal defense capabilities. I hope they have a longer range standoff missle and this this is the last line prior to close in weapons like our Phalanx or diversions such as Chaff. They’ll have one shot at multi-mach ASM speeds.
my math was off it’s less.
area of 500 sq nautical miles has roughly 22nm sides. corner to corner is roughly 22*sqrt 2=about 32nm. 1/2 of that since ship is in the center gives you roughly 16nm max. range to cover 500 nm.
alternatively 500sqnm circle has a radius of 12.6nm so the square solution is being nicer than the more relevant circle solution.