05 January 2025 , 09:47
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NATO members consider the state of the UK’s air defense to be inadequate, with virtually no means of protection against ballistic missiles.
This is reported by The Sunday Times.
According to sources in the British defense sector, a number of NATO countries have recently expressed disappointment that the United Kingdom is not contributing enough to defense systems to protect Europe from long-range missile attacks.
The British defense audit, initiated by the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also found that the country does not have ground-based air defense assets to protect critical infrastructure or populated areas from ballistic missiles, the publication writes.
According to The Sunday Times, during the Cold War, Britain was preparing to defend against nuclear-tipped missiles, so it did not prioritize other air defense systems.
“The reason Britain has very weak air defences is that for 30 years no one thought we needed them,” a senior British defence official told The Sunday Times.
According to the source, Britain could be attacked from “any direction” if a ballistic missile is launched from a ship, submarine or aircraft.
According to The Sunday Times, NATO will emphasize the development of ground-based air defense (SBAD) systems in 2025 as part of its recommendations to member states to increase defense spending.
At the same time, the British defense sector is concerned that excessive attention to air defense within NATO’s collective defense could lead to a diversion of funds from Britain’s more specific needs, the material states.