Helicopters from Naval Air Squadron 815 flew to Akrotiri base using RAF C-17 transport aircraft to strengthen drone defenses.
uk Royal Navyof AW159 Wildcat Two helicopters in Cyprus RAF Akrotiri Arrival at the air base strengthened British defense capabilities in the area.
The aircraft in question is 815 Naval Air Squadron By affiliation, RNAS Yeovilton After being quickly prepared at the base, RAF C-17 Globemaster III It was moved to the eastern Mediterranean via a transport plane.
Martlet lightweight multipurpose missileThese armed helicopters are now part of the UK’s air defense network on the island, strengthening its ability to respond to new threats.
Strengthening drone response
Martlet The missile is designed to neutralize drones and other small aerial threats. This system Full operational capability (FOC) in October 2025achieved.
Test results show that the weapon can hit aerial targets both day and night and provides an effective countermeasure against subsonic drones if the helicopter moves quickly into an interception position.
A shoulder-launched version of this system is already available. Ukraine It has proven effective in warfare, with several Russian drones shot down.
In testing, one Wildcat helicopter Up to 20 Martlet missilescan be mounted, but in current operational use, Up to 10 shotsMounting is allowed up to.
+ Video: Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter Martlet A scene where a Banshee drone is precisely shot down with a missile.
RAF strategic transport
C-17 Globemaster To load it into the cargo bay, the technical team removed some parts of the helicopter, including: Rotor blades, armament wings, and tail horizontal stabilizersThis is included.
Besides helicopters RAF A400M Atlas Transport aircraft transported crew, maintenance personnel, spare parts, and ammunition to Cyprus to support the operation.
Transporting Wildcat helicopters by C-17 transport aircraft is standard procedure. In recent years, these helicopters have been used for military training Clockworkto participate in NorwayIt has been deployed several times.
British air defenses expand
The arrival of Wildcat helicopters adds a new layer of defense to the air defense system established in Cyprus.
RAF Akrotiri Already at the base Typhoon fighter and F-35B fighteris deployed to carry out aerial patrol and drone interception missions, protecting the interests of the UK and its allies in the region.
With another reinforcement force HMS Dragon A destroyer is planned, and this Type 45The class vessel is expected to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean within a few days. This trap is Intermediate-range ballistic missile defense capabilityIt is equipped with
Also an aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford U.S. Navy destroyers escorting the strike group are also operating in nearby waters and have the capability to intercept ballistic threats.
Source and image: Ministry of Defense – X @DefenceHQ. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
