I just started the game as Federation, did the tutorial and entered a few battles. Without adding any equipment to my start ships, they were flyable and usable in combat.
Yet when I go to the “equip ship” screen, the “primary weapon” slot is shown as empty. Screenshot attached for the “Lynx”, but the same happened for the “Swift” and the “Raptor”.
After buying a new Assault Laser T1 Mk1 and installing it on the Raptor, it shows in the Primary Weapon Slot. The firepower seems not to change.
I can move the Assault Laser T1 Mk1 to the Lynx, and it works there and replaces the default weapon…
Overall, it looks like each ship has a standard weapon that is invisible in the menus, but is automatically installed when no other is installed. Is that intentional?