UK Conservatives propose £10bn air defence programme
The party says Britannia Shield would combine radar, missiles and counter-drone capabilities, with an initial deployable system targeted within five years.
The UK Conservatives plan to announce a proposed £10bn air and missile defence programme, called Britannia Shield, at their conference on Tuesday. The proposal is not established as government policy.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge says the system would use advanced radar, a new command and control system, interceptor missiles and counter-drone capabilities. The Conservatives describe it as inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, though the proposed British system would differ substantially in scale and design.
Cartlidge says the aim is to deliver a minimum deployable capability within five years, followed by further improvements, expanded capability and missile stockpiles over the next five years. These are proposed targets, not confirmed delivery dates.
The party says the programme would be funded through its proposed defence spending uplift, including a pledge to raise spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. The Guardian reports the government has committed about £790m to integrated air and missile defence in its Defence Investment Plan.
The Conservatives argue Britain is lagging behind some European countries in air defence investment. The Guardian also reports that Britain faces limited direct threat from current conflicts and that military officials have traditionally prioritised deterrence and reliance on Nato allies in a crisis.
