The idea here is simple. Give the player access to new ships to build when they unlock certain techs in the tech tree. The new hulls would each have characteristics related to the tech that allow them to specialize in that role. Currently, ships in the game differ only in their size, speed, and number of turrets, overlooking obvious differences in aesthetics, hitpoints, and mass. But what I'm suggesting, is that these unlockable ships have BUILT IN systems, in addition to the normal turrets that can be customized.



Player unlocks "Bomb" technology.
This could unlock 2 new ships.

• The first ship is a light bomber that is about the size of a ghoul, but doesn't have ANY turret slots. Instead it has a built-in cargo of Guided Sparrow Bombs, that are released from bomb bay doors that open when the weapons are activated "F". I think this system of using bombs would work because with the way the guided bombs work, they really don't even need to be mounted forward-facing.
  
  
• The 2nd unlocked ship would be more of a Medium Bomber. Possibly looking like a slightly larger Orca, It would only have one turret for self defence, but it's main role is using it's built in cargo of Guided Sparrow Bombs, much like the lighter version, but with more ammo.
  
  
• (If bomb bay doors that open aren't possible, simply having the "built in" systems be on un-customizable, non-rotating turrets could also work. Or hardpoints (like missile mounts under a jets wing)

That was just one example with Bombs.But these unlockable ships don't have to be limited to weapon tech or combat roles.


Player unlocks "Fast Travel" technology.
Lets suppose this unlocks 2 new ships again.

• The first ship is an upgraded Light trade-ship with similar design to the first (100 cargo total in two 50 slots). But this ship comes with a much better (un-customizable) engine, making it's acceleration in systems much faster, and cutting it's travel times by 1/3rd.
  
• The second ship is the next step up in size, similar in improvements to the first, but with 400 slots of cargo

As you can see, with this unlockable ship feature built into tech unlocks, the game will have added a way for companies to get advantages over competitors by giving them access to faster, or more capable ships. The ships would still have to be built and paid for, so the advantage isn't instantaneous. But such changes as these could add ways for people in a new game to try and "specialize" their company (perhaps by going straight for the fast travel tech and having faster freighters than your competition) and in general would add to the variety and enjoyment of the game

And those were just 2 examples, I'm sure you devs could easily figure out other, better ways to implement such a system