Why is HMS Dragon taking so long to get to Cyprus?
March 6, 2026
17 min
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925 of 1,000
March 6, 2026
Why is HMS Dragon taking so long to get to Cyprus?
0:00 / 17:36
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Sky News Episodes Around March 6, 2026
Episode 925 of 1,000 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
17:36This episodeWhy is HMS Dragon taking so long to get to Cyprus?
Summary
<p>The warship HMS Dragon is now not expected to leave for the Mediterranean until next week to begin its mission to defend a British military base in Cyprus from attacks by Iran. </p><p>The ship is one of six Type 45 air defence destroyers in the Royal Navy and one of three that aren’t currently out of service. </p><p>It is well-equipped to deal with Iran’s Shahed-type drones, so why has it taken so long to send it to the region? </p><p>Niall speaks to defence analyst Tom Sharpe, who also spent 27 years in the Royal Navy, about the military capabilities of HMS Dragon, the state of the Navy currently, and when the warship might finally arrive in the Med. </p><p>Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – <u><a href="mailto:why@sky.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">why@sky.uk</a></u> </p>
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