Britain is preparing to equip the Royal Navy’s amphibious landing ship HMS Lyme Bay with advanced drone systems designed to detect and clear naval mines, according to a media report.

The move aims to support efforts to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to international shipping amid rising regional tensions, The Times reported.

The vessel, which had been undergoing routine maintenance in Gibraltar, was deployed last week to the Mediterranean Sea for military exercises, potentially ahead of more advanced operations.

The development highlights growing Western preparations to address threats to maritime security in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.