A mission by the Royal Navy to counter potential Iranian drone threats has been delayed after maintenance work at the Portsmouth naval base slowed the deployment of the destroyer HMS Dragon.
The Type 45 air-defense destroyer was expected to deploy to Cyprus to help protect a British airbase from possible drone or missile attacks linked to escalating tensions with Iran. However, the vessel remains in port while engineers complete necessary maintenance and system upgrades.
Union officials say the delay stems partly from working-hour restrictions introduced under a new contract between the UK Ministry of Defence and contractor Serco, which manages port services at the base. According to union representatives, the arrangement reduced around-the-clock staffing and limited certain tasks to standard weekday hours.
Mike Clancy, general secretary of the union Prospect, criticized the arrangement and said national security should not depend on staff volunteering for overtime during emergencies.
“Our members are stepping up to help, but such a vital service shouldn’t be dependent on goodwill from staff,” Clancy said. “Out-of-hours support should be locked into the contract.”
The union claims the new £1 billion contract effectively ended 24-hour staffing coverage at the historic Portsmouth naval base, leaving the Navy reliant on voluntary weekend work to prepare vessels for urgent missions.
Defense Minister Al Carns acknowledged the delay but said the warship must undergo a range of maintenance and system adjustments before deployment. According to Carns, the destroyer had previously been configured for a different operational role and requires modifications to prepare for its new mission in the Mediterranean.
While HMS Dragon remains in dry dock, several allied ships have already reached the region. French and Spanish naval vessels reportedly arrived roughly two weeks earlier as international forces reposition assets amid rising tensions.
Serco Marine Services rejected claims that work schedules have slowed the ship’s readiness. A spokesperson said the company’s normal operating hours run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and insisted all requested work for the Royal Navy has been completed on time and to the required standards.
Union representatives dispute that explanation, arguing that some specialized tasks under the contract remain limited to weekday daytime hours, which they say has complicated rapid-response preparations.
The delay comes as global military tensions have increased following the launch of Operation Epic Fury by the United States alongside Israel’s Operation Lion’s Roar, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. Iran later responded with attacks across several countries in the Gulf and Mediterranean regions.
