I think the Slava’s were designed like Sovremenny’s. Launch missiles and get busy sinking. That’s why the missiles were on the outside. They weren’t designed to be on the ship when incoming was headed their way. An F-16’s cannon would rip the ship apart if the missiles were there.
Shoot, a skinny with a skiff and an RPG could do it
Makes the case for bringing back up-armored hulls and superstructures, doesn’t it?
Saving fuel with a lightly built ship might save money but it doesn’t save the ship.