The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer, deployed to reinforce security around the 2 RAF bases in Cyprus, is to undergo a short maintenance stop, says the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It is understood that the water systems problem on the HMS Dragon, which left Portsmouth on Tuesday, 10 March, has not hindered its operational capability, allowing it to continue its mission of reinforcing security around the RAF bases in Cyprus.
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced on Tuesday, 3 March, that the Type 45 destroyer was to be deployed to reinforce security around the RAF Akrotiri military base in Cyprus. The announcement was 2 days after this base was struck by an Iranian-made Shahed 136 drone.
HMS Dragon left Portsmouth on 10 March after the crew completed maintenance work in six days that would normally have taken six weeks, as cited by the defence secretary, John Healey.
If needed, the warship will still be able to set sail at short notice, the MoD shared on Tuesday, 7 April.
The docking will address minor technical issues with the onboard water systems. The malfunction has not affected the warship’s operational capability. All crew have had access to water and catering. They have also been able to take showers without difficulty.
A MoD spokesperson shared that HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics docking. It’s for a short maintenance period in the eastern Mediterranean. The docking would also permit the warship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems, and conduct maintenance.
HMS Dragon will remain prepared, sustaining a very high level of alertness during this period, and be able to set sail at very short notice, if needed.
The UK continues to sustain a robust and layered defensive presence in the eastern Mediterranean, working in coordination with allies.
This includes Typhoon and F-35 military fighter jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and advanced anti-drone and air defence systems.
It is also understood that it had always been the intention for HMS Dragon to initiate a logistics docking approximately at this point in its Mediterranean deployment.
