The UK has been warned that it does not have the capability to defend itself against a concentrated intercontinental ballistic missile attack. The verdict came from a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) as it warned that effective defence systems for European countries remain an “ambition” rather than a reality.
The issue in the United Kingdom is even more urgent, with NATO allies urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to increase spending on air and missile defence earlier this year as concerns about the country’s ability to defend itself mount. Former Shadow Defence Secretary Lord Coaker recently addressed concerns over the UK’s lack of protection from long-range drones and hypersonic missiles in a debate in the House of Lords. He said: “The noble Lord raises very important points, but some of them will have to wait for the outcome of the defence review.”
He added: “We are increasing the number of Sky Sabre units to nine, which is a significant increase, so we are not waiting for the outcome of the defence review.”
Sky Sabre is a ground based air defence system used by the British Army designed to intercept aircraft, missiles and drones.
Entering service in 2021, it has been deployed to NATO’s eastern flank and is able to use a radar system to guide up to 24 missiles simultaneously to intercept targets as small as a tennis ball moving at the speed of sound.
Earlier this year, the Sunday Times reported NATO allies are consistently expressing concern over Britain’s lack of contribution to the defensive shields that keep Europe safe.
A draft of the NATO blueprint, called the Capability Target 2025, is said to raise the need for the UK to invest in air defence systems, known as surfaced-based air defence (SBAD), to defend critical national infrastructure, such as nuclear power stations or military bases.
Concerns have been further exasperated by a change in administration in the United States which has altered the dynamic of the European response towards Ukraine.
Earlier today, the United States confirmed that it would stop providing Ukraine with intelligence that would be used to target Russian forces within Russian territory.
Several weapon systems vital to the air defence capability that the UK does possess require the cooperation of the United States for things such as software and replacement parts.
One senior defence source dismissed concerns that the US could potentially limit the UK’s ability to operate kit with American components.
They told the Express: “The US is our strongest ally. The idea that they might stop us using weapons or systems is laughable. It just isn’t going to happen.”
