Place: | Persian Gulf & Indian Ocean |
Status: | Ongoing |
Combatant1: | United Kingdom |
Commander1: | Keir Starmer John Healey Commodore Adrian C Fryer (as UK Maritime Component Commander)[1] Air Commodore Nikki Thomas OBE (as UK Air Component Commander) |
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 s 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]
Historical:
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