However I do agree with those navies that reduce ASW assets in favour or AAW and amphibious. Threats are evolving and ASW isn't the priority anymore. Especially in places like the Mediterranean.
It does appear many nations have chosen sea based air defense and expeditionary warfare capabilities over underwater warfare capabilities, but I for one am not yet convinced in the wisdom of this.
While not questioning Germany specifically, because when you factor in its own submarine fleet the Germans have a higher percentage of ASW and MIW ships than most Navies (I count the Gepards because they can lay mines), I think ASW is still the most important aspect of Naval warfare. At the end of the day, the numbers overwhelmingly point out that undersea warfare, the combination of mines and submarines, account for more damage and sinking's at sea than any other type of naval warfare over the last century by an overwhelming, enormous margin, including the modern era since 1980. Ironically, historically Germany is a major contributor to those statistics.
I don't see any evidence that this calculus has changed, because although there are fewer submarines today than ever before, there are fewer sea based aviation platforms than ever before as well. It won't matter if it is an SSK or SSN, in the future if a hostile submarine getll probably constitute the largest loss of life at sea in a single battle in over a half century.
It is hard to imagine any scenario, including the US vs China scenario, where a Naval task force ever faces an air force capable of a similar result, as ships will not be dispatched as a major task force without air superiority. Anyone familiar with major exercises, including fierce exercises like Neptune Warrior know what I am talking about.
so I do agree with you !