Tories pledge £10bn 'Britannia Shield' missile defence system

Key facts

• The Conservative Party plans to implement a £10 billion missile and drone defence system named 'Britannia Shield'.
• The system aims to protect cities, power plants, and military bases from missiles and drones.
• The proposed defence system is modelled on Israel's 'Iron Dome'.
• The Tories claim Labour is not doing enough to ensure UK security.
• The system is intended to be deployable within five years.

The Conservative Party has unveiled plans for a new £10 billion missile and drone defence system, dubbed 'Britannia Shield', which they aim to implement if elected. Kemi Badenoch, a leading figure in the party, stated that the system would be funded through reallocating existing government spending, drawing a stark contrast with Labour's approach to defence.

Badenoch described the 'Britannia Shield' as a network of radar, command and control systems, and interceptors, similar in concept to Israel's 'Iron Dome'. The system is intended to protect cities, power plants, and military bases across the United Kingdom and its overseas territories from threats such as missiles and drones, particularly those potentially launched by Russia or Iran. The Tories argue that Labour is not adequately preparing the UK for an increasingly hostile global environment, with war having returned to Europe and missile and drone technology transforming warfare.

According to Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge, the system could be deployed within five years and would represent one of Britain's most significant military programmes since the Cold War. The announcement follows a report by the Commons defence committee that highlighted concerns about the UK's air defence capabilities compared to its allies. The party also referenced recent events, including Russian drone activity near Moldova, as evidence of the escalating threats.