The UK is designing its own Iron Dome missile-busting defence system to block Russian attacks, a defence chief has revealed.
Air Chief Marshal, Sir Richard Knighton, said the armed forces are developing an Iron Dome system because of a looming threat from Russian missiles.
More countries are looking to develop a missile guard system, including the US where Donald Trump unveiled plans for a ‘Golden Dome’ shield worth around £130 billion.
Britain could soon have its own version of the system to block ballistic and cruise missiles, Sir Richard said.
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The high-ranking officer, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff, told LBC: ‘We call it integrated air and missile defence, and we have, over 30 years, not really faced a threat from the air in that way.
‘The threat has evolved, Russia’s capability and willingness to use ballistic and cruise missiles has become more apparent.
‘It’s been become clear that that peace dividend needs to be reversed, and we need to invest more in our radar capability, in our airborne air defence, and also in, ultimately, our ability to shoot down these drones and cruise missiles.’
What is the Iron Dome defence?
The so-called Iron Dome is an integrated defence system designed to shoot down rockets and mortar fire, first developed in Israel after thousands of projectiles were fired at the country, predominantly by militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Air raid sirens going off in the Middle Eastern country are common when rockets are being fired. Last summer, Iran fired hundreds of missiles into Tel Aviv, which the Iron Dome gunned down.
However, using the Iron Dome is not a cheap affair – each blast is estimated to cost over £2 million.
Britain doesn’t currently have a missile system under one roof like Israel does, and only the Royal Navy operates a ballistic missile defence capability.
Sir Richard continued: ‘So we know right across NATO that one of the biggest gaps in NATO’s capability is integrated air and missile defence, and we are part of that as the UK.
‘That’s one of the highest priorities that the Secretary General set at the Washington summit last year, and I know that that will be an issue that will come up at the NATO Ankara summit in 2026. We will be responding to that as a nation, alongside our allies. And there is a lot to do.’
The UK is subject to an ‘onslaught of cyber-attacks from Russia,’ Sir Richard has also said.
Other high-ranking figures in the UK intelligence and defence community have not minced their words about Russia.
The first female head of M16, Blaise Metreweli, described Kremlin as ‘aggressive, expansionist and revisionist’ in her first speech on Monday.
She warned that the ‘front line is everywhere’ amid reports of sabotage, cyber incidents and shadowy disruption suggesting Russian involvement.
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