Middle East: HMS Middleton
Commons · Question 121237 · Tabled 16 Mar 2026 · Ministry of Defence · Official record
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Question
Asked by Ben Obese-Jecty
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the requirement to replace the minehunting capability of HMS Middleton in the Arabian Gulf.
Answer
Answered by Luke Pollard, 19 Mar 2026
We inherited a plan from the previous government for a drawdown of crewed minehunting capabilities. The Royal Navy remains committed to sustaining mine countermeasures capability in the Arabian Gulf. The UK is transitioning to modern autonomous minehuntin...