The thing that baffles me is what capability the Dragon is being sent to provide. For all the hype about ballistic missile defence, she is currently not capable of intercepting Iranian missiles with range to reach Cyprus. (1) (2)
The T-45 is currently only capable of intercepting short range TBMs, not the longer range ones capable of reaching Israel or Cyprus. Even the SVE-1 upgrade will make it marginal, and that had a planned IOC of 2028 which has slipped to 2032. (3) (4)
In the present conflict the only real capability is with the Arleigh Burke cruisers currently in the Eastern Mediterranean. (5)
1.
https://www.navylookout.com/what-is-...le-capability/
2.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-o...sile-upgrades/
3. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/upda...ssile-upgrade/
4. https://militarywatchmagazine.com/ar...issile-defence
5.
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/20/5-u...iterranean-sea