Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon will sail towards the eastern Mediterranean to bolster British air defences in the region as Operation Epic Fury continues.
As per a statement today (Wednesday) by British Defence Secretary John Healey, the Daring-class air defence warship will be dispatched to counter Iranian missile and drone attacks against British interests in the region.
He said: “We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat.
“I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our Armed Forces personnel who have in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests.”
It was also announced that two additional Martlet-armed Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters are also deploying to the region.
The statement noted: “The Type 45 destroyer is one of the most capable air defence warships in the world, and will strengthen the U.K.’s ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats, including drones.
“The ship is fitted with the world-leading Sea Viper missile system, which can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously. Type 45 Destroyers have already been proven on operations, including when one successfully intercepted a Houthi missile in 2024.”
HMS Dragon is no stranger to the region. In 2013 she sailed alongside U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. In 2019 she was again deployed on maritime security patrols in the Arabian Sea.
And in 2020 she participated in joint Royal Marines exercises with Greek Cypriot forces off the coast of Cyprus.
As America’s Operation Epic Fury continues, in the last 24 hours UK armed forces have defeated multiple drone attacks in the region. Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B jets have shot down drones over Jordan, and a British counter-drone unit brought down uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in Iraqi airspace headed towards friendly forces.
On Monday, a missile fired from an RAF Typhoon in the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone.
- You can read more details about HMS Dragon’s deployment on the U.K. Government website