Operation Kipion

Operation Kipion has been 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 return of all crewed minehunters to the U.K., and their planned eventual replacement with autonomous minehunting systems, the configuration of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron had been expected to change. Nevertheless, as of the end of 2025, it was reported that both remaining minehunters in the Gulf would be withdrawn; a move completed with the withdrawal of HMS Middleton in early 2026. Whether they would be replaced with autonomous capabilities in the near-term was unclear.

The Royal Air Force operations in the broader Middle East have also fallen under this operation.