UK warship bolsters Cyprus defence

HMS Dragon, one of the Royal NavyÕs most capable air defence ships,
is in the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus after an
Iranian-made drone struck an RAF base on the island

HMS DRAGON
Type 45 destroyer

Aircraft
One/two Wildcat
helicopters with
Martlet missiles
to counter aerial
drones

Twin radar systems: Detect aerial or surface targets
at distances of up to 400km

S1850M
long-range
radar

SAMPSON multifunction radar

Two
20mm
CIWS*

Main armament
Sea Viper air defence
missiles, 120km range

114mm gun

Powerplant: Integrated electric
propulsion system with two WR-21
gas turbines, each rated at 21.5MW

Other armament: Two 30mm guns,
up to eight machine guns

*Close-in weapons systems

Displacement: 7,350 tonnes
Length: 152m
Speed: 30 knots
Range: 13,000km
Crew: Up to 235
Commissioned: 2012

UK Sovereign Base Area
United Nations buffer zone

RAF Akrotiri
Drone strike on
night of Mar 1-2
causes slight
damage to
aircraft hangar

CYPRUS
Nicosia
Dhekelia
Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus
Mediterranean Sea
50km
30 miles

Sources: Associated Press, Naval Technology, Royal Navy, The Independent
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