UK to send additional air defence kit to Middle East

Defence minister says troops will deploy to train and operate new air defences

British Defence Secretary John Healey walks outside 10 Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, Mar 17, 2026. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Britain plans to send additional air defence equipment and troops to help its allies in the Middle East as Iranian attacks continue, defence minister John Healey said on Tuesday as he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

• Healey held talks with allies where they discussed the Strait of Hormuz and further UK-Gulf co-operation on regional security, Britain's Ministry of Defence said.

• UK will deploy Sky Sabre, a ground-based air defence system used by the British Army, in Saudi Arabia, statement said.

• The deployment of British Typhoon fighter jets in Qatar, where the UK operates a joint squadron with Qatar, will be extended, Healey announced.

• Britain's Lightweight Multirole Launcher is now in Bahrain, where it is being integrated into that country's defence systems, the MoD added.

• Healey told reporters that British troops will help install, train, and operate the new air defence systems, with nearly 1,000 soldiers expected to be deployed across the Middle East to help "defend the skies and reinforce air defences".

• "I pay tribute to the heroic efforts of our partners across the Gulf in protecting their nations. We will stand by our long-term partners in the Middle East and continue to push for a swift resolution to this conflict," Healey said in the MoD's written statement.