Britain has announced its contribution to a multinational mission to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with Defence Secretary John Healey setting out a force package including Typhoon jets, HMS Dragon, autonomous mine-hunting equipment, and counter-drone systems at a virtual summit of over 40 defence ministers, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The announcement is backed by £115 million in new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems. The mission, described by the MoD as strictly defensive and independent, would become operational when conditions in the region allow.
The UK force package includes advanced autonomous mine-hunting equipment capable of detecting and defeating mines, the Royal Navy’s modular Beehive system carrying high-speed Kraken autonomous drone boats, Typhoon fast jets, specialist mine-clearance personnel who have been preparing in the UK, and HMS Dragon, which is already en route to the Middle East. RFA Lyme Bay is also being upgraded to serve as a mothership for autonomous systems should it be required for operations in the strait.
Healey said the package demonstrated Britain’s leading role in the effort. “The UK is playing a leading role to secure the Strait of Hormuz, and we are demonstrating that today with new cutting-edge kit to protect our interests and secure the Strait. New funding for autonomous mine-hunting and counter-drone systems, our advanced Typhoon jets, and HMS Dragon are strong and clear commitments — commitments to strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping and reduce the burden of the conflict on people at home. With our allies, this multinational mission will be defensive, independent, and credible.”
HMS Dragon has undergone additional training and systems calibration ahead of her deployment. The Type 45 destroyer carries the Sea Viper air defence system, one of the most capable counter-drone and anti-missile systems in the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. More than 1,000 UK personnel are already operating across the broader region, including counter-drone teams and fast jet squadrons.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, through which approximately a fifth of global oil supplies pass. Shipping traffic in the strait has dropped sharply since the onset of the regional conflict, placing significant pressure on global energy markets and supply chains. The multinational mission, co-led by the UK and France, is designed to restore confidence for commercial operators and reduce disruption to international trade.
Iran has already warned that any foreign naval presence in the strait will be met with a decisive response, with Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Gharibabadi posting on X that British and French warships would face immediate action from Iranian armed forces. The UK and its partners have maintained that the mission is purely defensive in nature.
We’ll need at least 300 Typhoons and F35’s to guarantee Air Superiority over the Hostile Forces.
Maybe the Tides can be fitted with Sea Ceptor too.
Couple of Divisions of Ground forces and massed Royal Marine Insertion back up by shore bombardment and Para drops.
The QE class are big enough to support larger weapons for the shore bombardment role, without sacrificing their other commitments – say 14 inch for example. Better range and heavier munition.
QE being closer to land would also extend the useful range of F35 into Iran.
Exactly.
Maybe stick a Snow Plough on her Bulbous Bow to clear a path through the minefields ?
Mate, we are just Brilliant 😁
Don’t forget the railguns!
Or lasers!
Its people like you that would just chuck our money away on outlandish and reckless deployments and procurement…
Now, if you ( like me) had spent even a fraction your time at school staring out the window, developing a good imagination, instead of listening to the bloody teachers drone on, you would realise that a far simpler solution is readily available.
You have heard of STUFT I’m sure, you will also know that the country has thousands of narrow boats, hundreds of snow plows not in use during the summer ( apart from Birmingham, were they clear the rubbish drifts on windy days).
So, paint the narrow boats grey, add the snow plough to the front, hey presto, a mine clearance flotilla…
Pay the owners in lashings of 5% beer and your golden, just tell them its a new branch of the grand union canal, issue them with anti flash white knotted hankichiefs and they will be absolutely thrilled….
😆
The Narrow boat bit made me smile as well.
My old manager had one, which I became acquainted with as he commissioned me to paint it!
He did not like these boats being called “a Barge”
To me, they were all Barges! Noooooo.
Morning mate, I know a few owners and they would likely be well up for it, just give them enough booze and point them in tbe right direction!
This could all come together as a part of J’s proposed Civil Defence Force.
4 Flotillas, N,S,E,W, plus Wales, Scotland, and N Ireland detachments. They’d need at least a pintle mount installed though, for a GPMG.
Crews could be sponsored reserve if deployed? Or a part of the Army Reserve. Training at 17 PMR at Marchwood!
🤣🤣😂👍
When commissioned me to paint it, did you ‘contemplate’ using Marine-Grade Alkyd Enamel paint. 👍😇.
It is also conveniently the case that many narrow boats’ cabins are almost the perfect dimension for a single erectable mk41 silo, which would solve our long range strike magazine depth in the same stroke!
Now if you squint hard enough, facing the wrong way in a dark room, you might just make out the silhouette of the ‘ new’ lean manned Type 91😂🤣😂
We can but laugh, but with the bailiffs trying to get Starmer out of No10 at the moment, god knows what will happen to the DIP among all this chaos and in fighting.
I am now genuinely concerned for GCAP…
I’ve always been one for making sure auxiliaries have some missile defence, beyond basic Phalanx. Some small air search radar and Sea Ceptor, or, more realistically, using SeaRAM.
Leh,
Wasn’t there a plan to mod one of the Bay Class vessels at some point? Perhaps an opportunity to expedite, during a period when HMG Treasury is handing out alms to orphan services? 🤔😉
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