Tories Pledge £10bn Air Defence

The Conservative Party has pledged to invest £10bn in a British air defence system, inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, if they win the next general election. The system, called the Britannia Shield, would offer an integrated network of radar, command and control systems, and interceptor missiles.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge will describe the Britannia Shield as the most significant upgrade to UK air defence for generations in a speech at the Tory conference. The system would be capable of defending the UK's critical national infrastructure, military bases, and sovereign territories from sophisticated threats.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the £10bn would be split over ten years, with £1bn allocated each year for the project. She stated that the system would not be exactly what Israel has and that the UK needs to start thinking ahead to ensure it can protect itself against hostile missiles and drones.

The Tories added that the proposal would strengthen the UK's air defence systems at a time when Nato allies have warned they are facing repeated Russian drone incursions. The party cited a report from the defence committee of MPs last November, which said the UK was lagging behind its European counterparts in having a plan to defend itself and overseas territories from a military attack.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the Tories had an abysmal record of defending Britain during their 14 years in power, adding that they owe Britain an apology, not another lecture. The Britannia Shield would have three components: new advanced radar systems, upgraded command and control systems, and new interceptor missiles.

The UK's existing Sky Sabre air defence system has previously been deployed in Poland as part of its support for Ukraine. The Conservative Party's plan comes amid growing concern over the vulnerability of Britain's defences, with Russia increasing hostile drone activity across Europe and Iran believed to have been involved in a recent security incident at RAF Fairford.

Kemi Badenoch said she had been listening to figures like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and following the impact of the war in Iran on Gulf countries when crafting her plans. She stated that warfare is changing and that the UK needs to be prepared to defend itself against new threats.