Prime Minister Starmer Deploys Additional Typhoon Jets and Anti-Drone Helicopters to Middle East as Regional Conflict Intensifies

UK PM Keir Starmer sends additional Typhoon jets to Qatar and Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus following a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 4:31 PM EST

Reinforcing Air Defenses in Qatar and Cyprus

In a press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that four additional Typhoon fighter jets will join the existing Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron in Qatar. These assets are intended to "strengthen defensive operations" and provide an extra layer of security for regional allies. Simultaneously, the UK is deploying Wildcat helicopters equipped with specialized anti-drone capabilities to Cyprus. These helicopters, armed with Martlet missiles, are specifically tasked with intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) following recent breaches of base security.

Response to the RAF Akrotiri Drone Strike

The deployment was accelerated after an Iranian-made drone struck a hangar at RAF Akrotiri on Monday. While the strike caused minimal damage and no casualties, it prompted an urgent visit to the island by Defence Secretary John Healey. Healey met with Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas to discuss the reinforcement of shared air defenses. The incident has led to increased friction with Cypriot authorities, who expressed "disappointment" over the level of information shared with local residents regarding the security threats.

Strategic Naval and Air Support

The UK has also committed the HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defense destroyer, to the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel, which is one of the few in the British arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, is expected to arrive in the region within the next week. This naval reinforcement joins a broader effort that has seen the government move advanced radar systems and F-35B jets to the region throughout January and February in anticipation of escalating hostilities.