Ok, Minewarfare is a good mission. How are we going to do minesweeping?
With a purpose built ship, not shoehorning it into another ship where it doesn't make a lot of sense. A small purpose built minesweeper, minimal self defense capability, RAM launcher and perhaps a 30mm gun.
Also, what is the mission of a "small surface combatant" (I'm not knocking the idea, but it helps if everyone is on the same page as we discuss this).
ASW, local air defense, surface combat. Mostly I think the US has an issue right now where our options are to either send in a $2 billion dollar Arleigh Burke or a Carrier Battle Group. There's nothing below a Burke. Well you don't always need a platform armed with Standard missiles and Tomahawks. A ship with a 5" gun, maybe 32 tactical length VLS cells, 8 Harpoons on deck, and the ability to carry two helicopters. If you really, really want to have the flexibility maybe split things up, 16 tac and 16 strike length VLS cells so carrying Tomahawks isn't out of the question. A ship you can hopefully build for $750 million to a billion each.