British destroyer HMS Dragon undergoes maintenance in Cyprus

On April 10, 2026, the British guided-missile destroyer HMS Dragon was reported to be docked at the Akrotiri base in Cyprus due to technical issues. The UK Ministry of Defence officially described the situation as short-term maintenance of the ship's water supply system. However, reports from the British press and Defense Express suggest that the malfunction is part of a recurring series of technical failures affecting the Type 45 destroyer class. Since their commissioning in 2010, these vessels have faced persistent problems with the WR-21 gas turbine engines, which led to a Power Improvement Project. Despite the official claim of routine maintenance, the ship remains docked without a specific timeline for resuming its mission. The incident has intensified criticism regarding the operational readiness of the British fleet. The Ministry of Defence maintains a reserved stance, attributing the situation to the complexity of current operational deployments.