The United Kingdom is significantly changing its strategy for modernizing the Royal Navy, moving away from building new destroyers in favor of modern hybrid vessels equipped with drones. This decision was made in response to threats from Russia, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing The Independent.
Instead of Type 83 destroyers, general-purpose combat vessels (CCVs) will be deployed at sea. The United Kingdom plans to acquire at least six such vessels, which could be built as early as the 2030s.
The new ships will serve as platforms for unmanned aerial vehicles, allowing the fleet to expand its firepower without a proportional increase in crew size or costs. These vessels will operate in tandem with Type 26 and Type 31 frigates. Previous plans for guided-missile destroyers have been officially removed from the investment program.
Reasons for the Change in Strategy
Russia’s activity in the Atlantic is causing concern for the British government due to potential threats to undersea cables. In response, the navy will receive autonomous underwater drones and sensor platforms to effectively monitor the Kremlin’s actions.
Special Protection Programs
To counter these threats, the United Kingdom is launching three special programs:
- Atlantic Bastion
- Atlantic Shield
- Atlantic Strike
These programs are designed to protect the North Atlantic and the Far North from Russian submarines.
