UK deploys Rapid Sentry anti-drone system to Kuwait to fend off attacks, air force says

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The UK has deployed a counter-drone system known as Rapid Sentry to Kuwait, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned on Friday a “reckless” overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery.

“The RAF Regiment has deployed its highly effective Rapid Sentry counter-drone system to Kuwait,” Britain’s Royal Air Force announced.

It is a ground-based air defence system which UK Defence Secretary John Healey said was “battle-tested” last week, when the deployment plan was first announced.

“The prime minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery,” Downing Street said in a summary of Starmer’s call with Kuwait’s crown prince.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at Downing Street in London, 1 April, 2026

“They discussed the deployment of the UK’s Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict,” the Downing Street statement added.

Gulf countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have been pulled into the Iran war, targeted by Iranian strikes in retaliation to attacks launched by the United States and Israel on 28 February.

Tehran claims it is only targeting US military assets across the Gulf but many of those strikes have hit civilian infrastructure like energy installations and hotels.