Gizmodo

18 High-Tech Warships From the Future That Rule the Seas Today

War. War never changes. Mankind has fought naval battles for thousands of years. And in the 21st century, the navy is still the most important branch of any maritime nation’s combat forces. But technology does change, and if you don’t live near a navy harbor, there’s a chance you’ve missed all the newest ships being built and launched in the past few years.

The following set of photos will introduce to you the latest, most advanced, sometimes surprisingly futuristic vessels from the largest navies of the world.

This is HMS Queen Elizabeth, the newest aircraft carrier of the British Navy, also the largest warship ever built in the UK—named by Queen Elizabeth II on July 4th, 2014, and scheduled to be commissioned in early 2017.

Photo: CPOA(Phot) Thomas Tam McDonald/Royal Navy/MoD/Crownborisblog39

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HMS Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy’s six state-of-the-art Type 45 or Daring-class air defense destroyers (commissioned on March 21st, 2013).

HMS Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy’s six state-of-the-art Type 45 or Daring-class air defense destroyers (commissioned on March 21st, 2013).

The U.S. Navy’s newest littoral combat ship—aka a ship designed to be used near shore—USS Coronado (LCS 4) was commissioned on April 5th, 2014. It is the second littoral combat ship of the Independence variant that features an innovative “trimaran” hull.

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Photo: Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Donnie W. Ryan/U.S. Navy

The littoral combat ships USS Independence (LCS 2), left, and USS Coronado (LCS 4) are underway in the Pacific Ocean.

Photo: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Keith DeVinney/U.S. Navyborisblog46.PNG

The USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is the first of three Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers developed for the U.S. Navy. It was christened on April 12th, 2014, and will be commissioned in 2015.

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Photo: General Dynamics/U.S. Navy

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Photo: General Dynamics/U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s first-in-class high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) has been in service since December 5th, 2012. Its modular design allows it to be rapidly refitted for various non-combat missions, such as transportation of troops or equipment.

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Photo: U.S. Navy


The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s first-in-class high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) has been in service since December 5th, 2012. Its modular design allows it to be rapidly refitted for various non-combat missions, such as transportation of troops or equipment.

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Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeffrey M. Richardson/U.S. Navy

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Photo: Paul Farley/U.S. Navy

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Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Phil Beaufort/U.S. Navy

America’s newest first-in-class aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was christened on November 9th, 2013, and is going to be commissioned in 2016 after additional outfitting and testing.

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Photo: Chris Oxley/Huntington Ingalls Industries/U.S. Navy

USS America (LHA-6) is the first of the America-class amphibious assault ships built for the U.S. Navy. The future amphibious assault ship is scheduled for commissioning on October 11th, 2014.

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Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua J. Wahl/U.S. Navy

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Photo: Shane Scara/Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding/U.S. Navy

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) was commissioned on May 4th, 2013.

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Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Lindborisblog59.PNG

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James R. Evans/U.S. Navy

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Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries/U.S. Navy

The Steregushchiy (hull number 530) and Boikiy (hull number 532) are members of the Steregushchy class, the newest class of corvettes in the Russian Navy. Boiky was commissioned on 14 May 2013.

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Photo: Radziun/Wikimedia Commons

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The Landing Helicopter Dock Dixmude (L9015) amphibious assault ship and helicopter carrier of the French Navy was commissioned in December, 2011.

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Forbin (D620), the large anti-air destroyer of the French Navy, lead ship of the Horizon class, has been in service since October 14th, 2010. Her main task is to protect aircraft carriers, capital ships or civilian ships from supersonic missile attacks.