One after another, European countries have approved plans to strengthen their military forces. They are trying to prepare for a full-scale global war. In the EU, more than 2 billion euros have been allocated to rapidly constructing new munitions factories at an unprecedented pace since World War II. Meanwhile, military sources and Cold War veterans claim that the missile threats from Russia and other hostile states are increasing.
On the other hand, according to a new report from the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, the UK missile defence system is weak. Discussions about creating a missile defence system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome have intensified. Britain’s missile defence systems are old and unable to defend against new missiles. Britain is also large, making it expensive and difficult to deploy a missile defence system for the whole country. This article examines the British defence system and the weaknesses of its capabilities against modern attacks.
UK missile defence system
Military budgets of European countries, along with urgent measures
European countries are increasing their military budgets. France has increased its defence budget in the past 8 years. France is predicted to surpass the UK’s defence budget by 2027. In addition, the Netherlands, which had been on a downward trend in its defence budget for several decades, has reversed this trend in the past 2 years. The Netherlands plans to double its defence budget in 5 years. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are also increasing their defence budgets. Even Germany, the first country to rapidly reduce its defence budget after the Cold War, doubled its military budget after the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Everything indicates the possibility of a global war. Unlike other European countries, Britain’s military capabilities have weakened in recent years. In the meantime, the UK missile defence system is, according to evidence, severely weakened.
The UK government’s inaction in increasing defence budget
The Independent criticized the UK government’s inaction in increasing the defence budget, referring to the increase in defence budgets among many European countries. This weakness is most evident in the UK missile defence system. London is under the security umbrella of NATO. To reach Britain, Russia must first pass through the Baltic countries and Finland, cross the Baltic Sea, face Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and then cross the North Sea.
Weaknesses in the UK missile defence system
The NATO alliance is based on the principle that “an attack against one of us is an attack against all”. Britain is severely under-defensive in some respects compared to its neighbours. If a NATO member were to invoke Article 5 of the military alliance, the UK government would be unable to provide military support. At that time, the UK government could not cite economic constraints as a valid reason for this inability. Military experts have warned that structural weaknesses in the UK missile defence system have made the country vulnerable to potential attacks. General Richard Barrons stressed that the UK should follow a defence model known as “Hedgehog Britain”. According to this defence model, the UK should develop its missile defence systems in a way that is safe from potential threats from Russia and other adversaries, including hypersonic missiles.
Britain’s weakness against modern military attacks
Britain is defenceless against many types of modern attacks. Tony Radakin, the chief of the British army, recently emphasized at a defence conference the need to follow the Nordic and Baltic countries in strengthening the UK missile defence system. The British Navy cannot even deploy an aircraft carrier group in a region without relying on US ships and aircraft. The British army cannot even field a 15,000-strong division of its 70,000-strong force. The British army’s ammunition is only enough for a month of war. On the other hand, out of the British fleet of 100 Typhoon fighters, only a little more than 20 fighters are ready to carry out operations.
Britain seeks to launch Iron Dome.
Tony Radakin, the UK chief of defence staff, says Britain may need an Iron Dome-style missile defence system. He said talks are underway between UK defence chiefs to create an Iron Dome-style defence system. The military official said that London and its European allies are exploring various initiatives to defend itself against the growing international threat. Previously, former British defence minister Mark Francois had also said that the country needs a defence system similar to Israel. However, experts say that setting up the Iron Dome in the UK will be more complicated and expensive due to the larger area of the country than Israel.
Britain is more vulnerable than ever to military threats.
Within the next 15 years, a ballistic missile will be able to reach the UK from anywhere in the world. Countries such as China and Russia are rapidly developing their ballistic missiles that can cross continents at high speed. Several NATO countries have recently expressed concern and frustration that the UK is not doing enough to protect Europe from long-range missile attacks. The war in Ukraine has prompted European countries to consider buying more air defence systems. The UK has no ground-based air defences to protect its critical infrastructure from ballistic missiles. This gap and weakness have become a significant concern for the UK government. Failure to urgently strengthen the UK missile defence system will leave British cities increasingly vulnerable.
