Sea Viper missiles loaded onto HMS Dragon as she prepares to sail to eastern Mediterranean

Images from Portsmouth Harbour appear to show HMS Dragon being loaded with her Sea Viper's air defence missiles as she is prepared for her deployment to protect British assets in the eastern Mediterranean.

Sea Viper is a highly sophisticated Royal Navy air defence system that is fitted out with Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles for close- and longer-range engagements.

HMS Dragon is heading toward Cyprus to offer greater protection to British assets in the region after RAF Akrotiri was struck by a drone fired from Lebanon by one of Iran's allies earlier this week.

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Sea Viper was first used in combat in December 2023 to strike a suspected attack drone targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea.

The system is capable of striking targets up to 75 miles away.

For footage of HMS Dragon's munitions being loaded, visit the BFBS Forces News YouTube channel.