UK Navy to receive up to 6 new ships with laser weapons

London, May 14 (FN Agency) The UK navy will receive up to six new Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS), capable of launching drones and equipped with DragonFire lasers, The Telegraph newspaper reported, citing UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The development of the new ships has begun, the report said on Monday, adding that ships will also have a hangar for helicopters. “We’re making these critical investments in shipbuilding to build the future Royal Navy needed to deter our adversaries and then win if they are not deterred…

As nations like China and Russia invest heavily in their militaries, we must make sure the UK leads our allies so that the West is not left behind,” Shapps was quoted as saying by the newspaper. A senior navy source told the newspaper that the new ships will be better than the current ones “as they will be cheaper to run and have greater adaptability with hangers to take helicopters and landing craft,” and will be more “environmentally friendly as they will be designed to use adaptable fuels.”