The Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the UK will receive up to 25 new warships and 22 are “already in the system.”
Shapps told Sky News the government is committed to three “versatile” ships for the Royal Marines and there is “possibly another three” more.
He said that this is a “very, very large shipbuilding programme, a lot of warships, the golden era of shipbuilding here.”
Shapps added, “It’s all possible because just last month we agreed as a government to spend 2.5% of our GDP on our defence sector because we think it’s very, very important to make sure that those who would seek to do us harm are put off, that they are dissuaded because they can see that we’re serious about our defence.
“What we’re trying to do is create a multi-role ship which they can use in all different circumstances,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today.
“Actually, interestingly, we’re learning from what’s happened in the Black Sea in Ukraine and learning what’s happening in the Red Sea currently to make much more flexible ships capable of carrying out a lot of different types of tasks.”
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, said, “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has cemented the future of our Royal Marines by committing to this new class of up to six amphibious vessels.
“These will be the most capable amphibious warships the nation has ever owned, designed to be fully interchangeable with our closest allies in Europe, and in NATO.”
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