What is HMS Dragon and what are its capabilities?

All six of the UK’s Type 45 destroyers feature a missile system known as Sea Viper, which is “designed to track, target and destroy a variety of high-level air threats”, ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan reports

The UK has confirmed it will send warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus after a British base on the island was hit by a drone.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the UK would be sending the ship, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, after the attack on RAF Akrotiri.

What is HMS Dragon and what are its capabilities?

What is it?

HMS Dragon is one of the most advanced warships in the world, according to the Royal Navy.

It is one of six Type 45 air defence destroyers, known as the Daring class, which were purpose-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare.

Instantly recognisable by the large red Welsh Dragon on its bow, HMS Dragon is manned by more than 200 personnel and is currently based in Portsmouth.

Despite the name ‘destroyer’, the ship is built for a range of missions from combating pirates and defending against air attacks, to delivering humanitarian aid.

Two of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, HMS Dragon (left) and HMS Duncan. / Credit: PA Images

What capabilities does it have?

All six of the UK’s Type 45 destroyers feature a missile system known as Sea Viper, which is “designed to track, target and destroy a variety of high-level air threats”, including cruise missiles, fighter jets and drones.

According to the Royal Navy, it can launch eight missiles in under ten seconds and simultaneously guide up to 16, hitting targets with precision from over 70 miles away.

Its multifunctional radar can detect air and surface targets from a distance of 250 miles and is capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously.

As well as two Phalanx 20mm close-in weapons systems, the ships have an array of weaponry, including the BAE Systems 4.5-inch Mark 8 Mode 1, two 30mm DSM Mark 2s, two 7.62mm miniguns and up to six FN MAG general purpose machine guns.

The Type 45 destroyers also feature a flight deck and hangar to support the operation of a single Merlin helicopter, which can be used for “round-the-clock maritime patrol”, offensive attacks and search and rescue missions.

What conflicts has the HMS Dragon been involved in?

The HMS Dragon’s history goes all the way back to 1647, when the First Dragon was built in Chatham as a 38-gun fourth rate frigate.

The ship is now in its tenth iteration, launching in November 2008 and beginning its first mission in April 2012.

Previous incarnations of the ship took part in the Seige of Havana in 1762 as part of the Seven Years War, was employed in the suppression of the slave trade in the late 1800s and took part in operations against German U-boats in the Second World War.