VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Iran: RAF Akrotiri

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 18 March 2026UIN 120529

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of 2 Force Protection Wing’s ORCUS counter-UAS equipment on preventing drone attacks on RAF Akrotiri.

Answered by Al Carns

While ORCUS+ is not optimised to defeat One-Way Attack UAS, it offers an enhanced ability to detect, track and identify, increasing a kinetic system’s ability to defeat but no system can be 100% effective. This is why our defences in the Eastern Mediterranean now include Typhon and F-35 jets, air defence and counter-drone units, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and a further 400 air defence personnel are currently deployed to protect British lives and interests.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim