MOSCOW, May 14. The British Navy will receive up to six new ships with laser weapons and drone-launching capabilities, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said.
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"The Marine Corps will receive up to six new ships from which it will be possible to launch drones and fire laser weapons.” , writes the Telegraph with reference to the politician.
As Shapps told the newspaper, new ships are needed to deter Britain’s enemies.
According to the publication, the design of the ships has just begun . They are a class of Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) designed to «quickly transport Marine commandos from sea to coast around the world.» The new ships will have a hangar for a helicopter, docks for a landing craft, and the launch of maritime drones. It is noted that the ships can be equipped with DragonFire laser weapons to protect against enemy drones and missiles.
As Shapps believes, with these ships, “the future of the Marine Corps will be secured for decades to come.”
He also noted that investment in the creation of new ships is necessary against the backdrop of increased military spending “by countries such as China and Russia» to make sure that «the West is not left behind.» At the same time, the head of the British Ministry of Defense admits that in the long term it is impossible to predict what conflicts will look like, so creating large stockpiles of weapons “will never be a mistake.”
As an unnamed source in the British Navy told the publication, the new ships will be distinguished by their multifunctionality, will cost less to maintain and will be more “environmentally friendly” due to the possibility of using different types of fuel.