British destroyer HMS Dragon arrived in Cyprus on Monday, three weeks after an Iranian drone struck RAF Akrotiri, to reinforce air defences at the UK’s bases on the island.
The warship departed Portsmouth on 10 March — seven days after the decision to deploy it was taken — and completed the journey in just under two weeks.
British Defence Secretary John Healey told parliament: “I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean and tonight begins operational integration into the defence of Cyprus alongside our allies”.
The Type 45 destroyer is equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and SAMPSON radar, which enables simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple targets. It has previously been deployed to the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf on both British and NATO operations.
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