Britain announced plans to expand its military support to Gulf partners under attack from Iran, saying it would buy more missiles and provide training to allied forces.
The Ministry of Defence said the United Kingdom's fighter jets and other elements of its forces have been active in shooting down Iranian drones. A Royal Navy warship has been dispatched to the eastern Mediterranean, though the government has faced criticism that it could not send the vessel sooner.
On March 1, the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian-made drone. The deployment of HMS Dragon to the region did not occur until March 10, a timeline that has prompted questions about Britain's readiness and response cadence.
Alongside its forces stationed in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and deployments elsewhere, Britain said it would place an order for additional Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales UK in Belfast. These missiles are intended to equip both British forces and partner militaries in the region. The Ministry of Defence also confirmed plans to offer partner personnel training in the UK.
"Lightweight Multirole Missiles have already proven highly capable for air defence in the Middle East," a statement from the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
Diplomats and defence attachés from a number of Gulf and neighbouring states attended a meeting in London with Britain's Minister for Defence Readiness, Luke Pollard. The delegation included representatives from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Jordan.
At the session, attendees and officials from defence suppliers discussed ways to accelerate delivery of new equipment and technology to counter Iranian attacks. Supplier participants named in the statement included BAE Systems, MBDA and Leonardo UK.
The government framed the procurement and training package as a direct response to regional security pressures, while the delayed naval movement and the hit on RAF Akrotiri have fed public and political scrutiny of how quickly Britain can project force and protect bases and partners.
Context and market implications
The announced missile order and planned training are likely to be watched closely by defence contractors and investors in companies tied to military equipment and supply chains. The meeting with Gulf representatives and defence firms underscores the role of procurement and interoperability in immediate regional security responses.