Britain would be protected by its own version of Israel’s “Iron Dome” air-defence system under a Conservative government, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged.
The Conservatives have unveiled plans for a £10billion network, named Britannia Shield, designed to protect cities, power stations and Army bases from missiles and drones launched by hostile states including Russia and Iran.
Modelled on the technology used by Israel, the proposed system would combine radar, command and control infrastructure, missile interceptors and counter-drone equipment.
The Tories argue the programme is necessary because Labour has yet to explain how it will meet its target of raising defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030. They accuse the party of failing to do enough to protect the UK, its overseas territories and military bases amid growing international tensions.
Mrs Badenoch said: “The first duty of government is to defend the country and keep people safe. Labour are failing that basic test.
“The world will not wait for Britain to get ready. War has returned to Europe. Missiles and drones are transforming warfare in the Middle East. Cheap weapons can now threaten cities, military bases and critical infrastructure in ways that would have sounded like science fiction a generation ago.
“If a missile or drone is launched at Britain, we do not get a second chance to wish we had prepared.
“That is why we are announcing Britannia Shield: a new national missile-and-drone defence system to protect the whole United Kingdom, our sovereign territories and British bases overseas.”
Kemi Badenoch has unveiled plans for a £10billion defence network, named Britannia Shield, to protect cities, power stations and Army bases from missile and drone attacks (the Tory leader is pictured on Sunday)
The Conservatives say Labour is failing to do enough to protect the United Kingdom (Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pictured last month)
Fresh warnings emerged on Monday that President Vladimir Putin is placing lives at risk across Europe, after Russian drones and missiles threatened Moldova.
Projectiles launched during an attack on Ukraine struck a passenger bus across the border, days after drones entered Moldovan airspace and debris fell to the ground.
Moldova, which lies between Ukraine and Romania, was formerly part of the Soviet Union.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “Europe has seen a spike in the Russian hybrid attacks and sabotage attempts and airspace violations in recent weeks. Russian missiles and drones violated Moldovan airspace again over the weekend. This is completely unacceptable.”
The Conservatives, who have already promised to raise defence spending by £10billion a year through welfare cuts, say their Integrated Air and Missile Defence system could be operational within five years.
Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge is expected to provide further details in a speech at the party’s conference in Birmingham on Tuesday. He said: “With a £10billion budget, this would be one of Britain’s most significant military programmes since the Cold War.
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“But one that is totally necessary because of the threats we face. And only possible because of our willingness to take the tough decisions to fund defence.”
The pledge follows a report from the Commons Defence Committee last year, which warned that Britain has “next to nothing” in terms of air defences compared with its allies.
The announcement came after fresh warnings on Monday, when Russian drones threatened Moldova, a country that was once part of the Soviet Union (Vladimir Putin is pictured)
A US B-1 bomber departs RAF Fairford yesterday as America withdraws its aircraft from the base
The threats to the country were illustrated on Monday as the US dramatically withdrew its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire over fears of an Iranian plot against the base.
Russian drones have previously been sighted over the base as well as RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. Just last week the Kremlin warned that it would retaliate with ‘nuclear weapons’ if Britain or Nato took military action against its territory.
Over the summer Moscow threatened to target UK factories in response to Government support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, intelligence services in Germany warned that the Kremlin’s ‘shadow war’ against Europe is entering a more dangerous phase.
Iran is also seen as a growing threat after drones launched by its proxies hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Tehran fired missiles at the Chagos islands, home to the crucial joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base.
The Tories’ Britannia Shield is inspired by Israel’s multibillion-dollar Iron Dome, which has proved highly effective since 2011.
It is credited with helping to intercept hundreds of missiles and drones fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen and from as far away as Iran.
Replicating the system here would be difficult, however, because the UK’s landmass is 11 times greater and it has many more large cities.
At a Tory conference on Tuesday, Labour will be accused of dithering and delay over defence funding.
A Labour spokesman insisted: ‘Andy Burnham’s Labour Government is delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. Keeping Britain safe is the first priority of this Government.’
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Andy Burnham is shirking his responsibility to protect us from hostile powers…but Kemi’s committed to keeping Britain safe