The government says it will prioritise building new drone-equipped warships rather than replacing ageing destroyers. The approach is set out in an upcoming defence investment plan, which outlines planned funding for modern naval capabilities. Multiple reports describe the policy as a shift in how the navy modernises, moving toward vessels that can operate with drones. The decision is presented as a response to the condition and future needs of the existing fleet, with destroyers nearing the end of their service life and replacement plans being reconsidered. While sources agree on the broad direction—investing in drone-capable warships—the reports do not provide detailed specifications such as the number of ships, delivery timelines, or the types of drones to be used. Overall, the coverage indicates that the defence investment plan will steer new naval procurement toward unmanned systems and platforms designed to integrate them, with the aim of updating capabilities without directly following prior plans to replace the oldest destroyers one-for-one.