Learning From Conflicts In Ukraine And The Red Sea, Britain Will Build Warships With Drones And Laser Weapons

British Defense Minister Grant Shapps in front of the British Royal Navy warship construction project. (Twitter/@grantshapps)

JAKARTA - The British Royal Navy plans to order up to six drone-carrying warships and laser weapons, as global tensions rise.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Grant Shapps said the design of the new ship would take lessons from the current conflict, including the Houthis' attack on merchant ships in the Red Sea.

The new ship, known as the Multi-Business Supporting Ship, will be designed to strengthen Royal Marines, he said, as reported by The National News May 14.

They will be designed to carry "manifolds" of drones with aircraft and stealth fighters. They will also function as the main ship receiving casualties.

The ships, which will be built in the UK, will also be equipped with DragonFire lasers, directed energy weapons that will be installed on Royal Navy warships starting in 2027.

The technology, which is claimed to have accuracy to hit coins from a distance of one kilometer, is designed to shoot down drones and missiles at a cost of 10 per shot.

By comparison, the Sea Viper anti-aircraft missile, used by the British Royal Navy to shoot down drones and missiles in the Red Sea, costs more than 1 million per missile.

The range of weapons is kept secret. but the Ministry of Defense says this weapon is capable of attacking any visible object.

Defense Minister Shapps said, "we will definitely build the first three ships for the Royal Marines and plan to build the next three ships".

"What we're trying to do is create a multi-player ship," he told BBC Radio.

"Actually, what's interesting is that we learned from what happened in the Black Sea in Ukraine and learned what is happening in the Red Sea today, to make ships that are much more flexible and capable of carrying out various types of tasks,"

Shapps claims Britain is experiencing a golden age of military shipbuilding, with 28 Royal Navy ships under construction or planned.

Meanwhile, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, said: "I am pleased that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has strengthened the future of our Royal Marines, committed to a new class consisting of up to six amphibious ships.

"This will be the most capable amphibious warship this country has ever owned, designed to be fully exchangeable with our closest ally in Europe, and in NATO," he said.

This announcement comes just weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced defense spending would be increased by 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030.

"This is something we can now do because the funds have been promised for defense," said Defense Minister Shapps.