Dragon's firepower can keep base safe

HMS DRAGON is now well under way for the Mediterranean as the Iran crisis worsens.

- BY CHRIS HUGHES DEFENCE & SECURITY EDITOR

HMS Dragon leaves from Portsmouth

And not before time. Dragon is one of six sea beasts reputed to be among the most advanced warships ever made - the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers.

The £1.2bn Type 45s specialise in air defence - protection from planes, missiles and drones like the one that hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

They replaced the Type 42 warship, and it is said that in an intense attack just one of them could take down more targets than five of their predecessors.