The United Kingdom plans to build six additional warships to support Royal Marines’ special operations.
According to a government press release, the new vessels will expand the number of multirole support ships developed under the Royal Navy shipbuilding program to 28, backed by increased defense spending.
The MRSS units in the pipeline include Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, Astute and Dreadnought submarines and Fleet Solid Support ships.
The vessels are designed to carry vehicles, aircraft, and drones and serve as primary casualty receiving ships, providing immediate medical care to deployed forces.
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who was expected to announce the plan at the Sea Power Conference in Central London on Tuesday, said the program boost marks a new golden age of shipbuilding in the United Kingdom. New warships and submarines will strengthen national security and ensure commanders can respond to future conflicts, he added.
At the same conference, Shapps was set to also discuss the sale of HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster to BAE Systems after their retirement for use in apprentice training.