Defences bolstered amid US-Israel-Iran war: Find out how RAF Akrotiri is being protected

Stealth fighter jets and helicopters are already at RAF Akrotiri - and soon a Type 45 air defence destroyer will be sailing to the Eastern Mediterranean to join them.

Defending Britain's busiest overseas airbase during a regional conflict is no small job, and the US-Israel war with Iran has made American allies a target, including those at Akrotiri.

The Government has moved quickly to improve defences in the region since a drone smashed into a hangar at the British base.

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Defence Secretary John Healey told BFBS Forces News: "I feel we are doing everything that we can."

So, what are the defences in the Sovereign Base Areas?

Fast jets: Lightnings and Typhoons

There are eight Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 jets stationed at RAF Akrotiri, having deployed from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby on Op Shader since 2015.

Six F-35B Lightning with 617 Squadron from RAF Marham arrived at RAF Akrotiri on 6 February during the US military build-up in the region.

Both jets are equipped with Meteor, AMRAAM and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, which were recently used by the first F-35B pilot to shoot down a drone in combat.

"We've got more planes on Cyprus than any other nation," Mr Healey has repeatedly said. 

C-UAS: Countering a drone-based crisis overseas

The Ministry of Defence deployed ORCUS Counter-Uncrewed Air System to Cyprus in early February as it increased defences on the island.

It can detect, track, identify and defeat drone threats, and the C-UAS ability is operated by 2 Force Protection Wing.

The RAF capability can be deployed rapidly in the UK or overseas during a drone crisis.

ORCUS was sent to Denmark in October 2025 to face Russian drone threats in Europe.

GBAD: Defending the skies from the ground

Ground-based air defences were moved into RAF Akrotiri at the same time to bolster protection.

BFBS Forces News understands Lightweight Multirole Missiles operated by the RAF Regiment are in the airbase.

It is also likely that either Alvis Stormer HVM, firing Martlet and Star Streak missiles, or Sky Sabre, firing Land Ceptor missiles, are there too, but neither is confirmed.

Both are operated by the Royal Artillery.

Radar: Seeing beyond Cyprus' border 

Drone-detecting radar had also been moved into Cyprus in the weeks before the strike.

While not confirmed, BFBS Forces News assesses that the radar element of Sky Sabre, Giraffe Agile Multi Beam 3D, could have been deployed.

A rotating radar and an extending mast elevate above the tree line to detect low-flying objects.

The Giraffe can observe 360° to a range of 120km. 

Helicopters: Royal Navy flying in support to the station 

Several helicopters have been deployed to RAF Akrotiri since the drone attack.

The Defence Secretary told the House of Commons that three Royal Navy Wildcat attack helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron have arrived at the station.

Armed with Martlet missiles, Wildcats can shoot down drones up to 6km away.

A single Crowsnest Merlin of 820 Naval Air Squadron also deployed to Cyprus, capable of giving advance warning of drone threats.

HMS Dragon: Royal Navy ship promised to defend Eastern Mediterranean

BFBS Forces News understands there is currently no Royal Navy presence in the Eastern Mediterranean or the Middle East.

HMS Dragon was declared to be sailing to the region in the days after the strike, but has currently not yet left Portsmouth.

The Type 45 Daring-class destroyer is armed with Sea Viper missiles, which were used in the Red Sea by HMS Diamond to destroy drones fired from Yemen by Houthi rebels in 2024.

Dragon is being stocked with ammunition and having preparations made to weapons systems.

British Army: Two resident infantry battalions at Sovereign Base Areas

There are two resident infantry battalions permanently posted to Cyprus.

From Episkopi Garrison in the Western SBA, 1 The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment assisted with the evacuation of RAF Akrotiri on 2 March.

On the other side of the island, 4 The Royal Regiment of Scotland is based at Dhekelia in the Eastern SBA. 

A single company is always held at high readiness as the Regional Ops Battalion and ready to react in the region.

British defences: Has the UK government done enough?

The MOD said at least 400 additional personnel have been moved to Cyprus since February.

After the drone attack, the UK's move to bolster defences is both for protection and PR, proving to the Republic of Cyprus that it can defend its allies and interests.

There is a lot defending Cyprus, but will it prove to be enough?