Operation Kipion

Operation Kipion is a long-standing air and maritime presence by the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to promote enduring peace and stability in the region, and ensure the safe flow of oil and trade. Up until the early 2020s, a permanent presence of 4 minesweepers formed the Mine Countermeasures element (9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron) of this tasking. With the gradual withdrawal of the Sandown-class minehunters from the Royal Navy, and their planned replacement with autonomous minehunting systems, the configuration of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron is likely to change. The Royal Air Force operations in the broader Middle East also fall under this operation.^[2]

Operation Kipion
Location Persian Gulf & Indian Ocean Status Ongoing
Belligerents
United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Keir Starmer John Healey Commodore Adrian C Fryer (as UK Maritime Component Commander)[1] Air Commodore Nikki Thomas OBE (as UK Air Component Commander)

Royal Navy

• HMS Lancaster with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (December 2022 – Present)
• Mine Countermeasures Vessels^[3]
  • HMS Bangor (mid-2021 - Present; damaged by collision, January 2024; due to be retired in 2025)^[4][5][6]
  • HMS Middleton (mid-2021 - Present)^[7][8]

Historical:

• HMS Daring with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (September 2016 - April 2017)
• HMS Dauntless with a Westland Lynx HMA.8 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (January 2015 - June 2015)
• HMS Dragon with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (September 2018 - April 2019)
• HMS Defender with a Westland Lynx HMA.8 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (October 2014 - December 2014) and (December 2015 and July 2016). With a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (August 2019 - March 2020)
• HMS Duncan with a Westland Lynx HMA.8 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (March 2015 - December 2015).^[9] With a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (July 2019 - August 2019)
• HMS Monmouth with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (March 2017 - December 2017)
• HMS Kent with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (August 2019 - December 2019)
• RFA Wave Knight with a AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 from 847 Naval Air Squadron (847 NAS) on board - (August 2019 - February 2020)
• HMS Argyll with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (March 2020 - September 2020)
• RFA Cardigan Bay ^[3] with a Westland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (June 2017 - May 2021)
• HMS Montrose with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (April 2019 – November 2022)
• RFA Lyme Bay (May 2021 – April 2022)
• HMS Diamond with a AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron (815 NAS) on board - (November 2023 – June 2024)^[10]
• RFA Cardigan Bay (June 2022 – April 2024)^[11]
• HMS Chiddingfold (mid-2020 - early-2025)^[7]

Royal Air Force

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar - 901 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF

RAFO Musannah, Oman - 902 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF

Al Minhad Air Base, UAE - 906 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF

See also

• Standing Royal Navy deployments