Two British Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles arrived at the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Areas on Friday evening, as Britain steps up its military presence in Cyprus following a drone strike on the RAF base earlier this week.
The Wildcats, which operate from the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, are equipped with advanced maritime sensors and can carry both Martlet and Sea Venom missiles for use against fast boats and naval targets. The aircraft extend the fleet’s surveillance reach beyond radar range and are a core asset in British maritime operations.
Britain announced it would deploy HMS Dragon alongside the two helicopters to strengthen defences in the Eastern Mediterranean. The move is part of a broader response by European allies who have been sending air-defence forces to Cyprus since drones struck RAF Akrotiri.
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