Akrotiri, Cyprus. Reports on Sunday said an Iranian-made Shahed drone that struck the UK’s Akrotiri air force base last Monday contained Russian technology. The UK has since moved to strengthen defences on the island and confirmed operations to engage drones launched from Iran.
Reported discovery of Russian navigation system
British newspaper The Times reported that the drone contained a “Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system,” which it said had first been seen in Russian drones intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December last year.
The newspaper also reported that recovered components from the drone have been sent to a laboratory in the United Kingdom for further investigation.
According to the report, the Kometa-B system was developed to protect Russian drones from jamming technology, helping ensure drones hit their intended targets despite Ukrainian-built jamming systems.
Statements on Iran-Russia cooperation
The Times described the finding as “the first evidence that Russian military equipment is being used in the conflict,” citing comments by the UK’s chief of defence staff Sir Richard Knighton that there is “no doubt” Russia had been passing intelligence to Iran during the conflict.
“This is an axis we need to call out. The cooperation between Iran and Russia makes their forces more capable and more dangerous, and that’s why we need to be ready,” Knighton said.
Russian ambassador in London Andrei Kelin said Russia is “not neutral” in the conflict and is “supportive to Iran.”
UK defence measures and operations from Cyprus
After the drone strike, the UK sent two AW159 Wildcat helicopters armed with anti-drone missiles to Cyprus, and the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon was also expected to depart from Portsmouth in the coming days.
On Thursday night, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that Cyprus, and more specifically Akrotiri, has been used as the launchpad for missions aimed at engaging and shooting down drones fired from Iran.
Those operations are being led by F-35 fighter jets stationed in Cyprus since last month.
What impact do you think the reported use of Russian technology in the drone could have on UK defence planning in Cyprus?