The Type 45 is fitted for, but not with a lot of weapons.
PAAMS is a great system, IMHO superior to SM-2MR, maybe on par with the new SM-6.
The german navy should've gone for Aster instead of sticking to the standard missile.
The radar system is top notch for sure, but AEGIS like systems have become pretty common these days.
SAMPSON is an interesting idea as it does not us fixed antennas like AEGIS or APAR, but rather moving electronic antennas, like the SMART-L search radar complimentary to APAR.
So SAMPSON is some kind of a middle ground between AEGIS and APAR/SMART-L (as installed on german F 124 frigates). It uses a trainable antenna like the SMART-L search radar but uses a single array for search and tracking. SAMPSON doesn't need an illumination feature like APAR as Aster is active radar homing.
Of course the Type 45 is much larger than the F124 (7000 to 5000 tonnes), so it should be more considered on par with a DDG 51 class destroyer.
Compared to those, the 45 has less SAMs but more advanced ones. On the other hand, currently much VLS space on the DDG 51s is taken up by TLAMs, so the overall SAM number should be pretty similar.
But having a larger hull with less armament is not as bad as it sounds. AEGIS ships are top heavy and the royal navy always puts great emphasis on seaworthiness.
I suppose the type 45s will be steady missile platforms in very rough seas.
Regarding the other armament, the gun is pretty much a decent one with a good mix of guided and long range rounds.
CIWS is overrated anyway. The USN stopped fitting it to new ships recently as well.
Small missiles like RAM or Barak will take its place. I wonder why they didn't fit an additional VLS with the excellent british SeaWolf missile system which is exactly such a missile.
The VLS can use ASTER 15 which has a similar profile, but ASTER 15 has the disadvantage that the missile is exactly as wide as the longer ranged ASTER 30, only shorter. So you can only substitute one long range missile for one short range missile, while with ESSM/SM-2 you can substitute 4 ESSMs for one SM-2.
Another disadvantage is the land attack capability: The french navy wants to navalize the SCALP EG cruise missile, which the RAF uses as Storm Shadow.
Unfortunately the VLS system on the Type 45 is too short for a surface launched Storm Shadow, it can only take ASTER 30 and 15.
Harpoon launchers can be fitted, and I suppose the RN has a lot of leftover harpoon launchers from decommissioned Type 22s.
Regarding the torpedo launchers, I suppose they could be added if necessary as well, but a 45 stumbling over a submarine in range for a shipborne torpedo launch is unlikely. No reasonable 45 captain would deliberately close range to a sub, so it is only suitable as a last resort weapon.
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