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Some members of the North Atlantic Alliance consider the state of the United Kingdom’s air defense inadequate, as the country lacks sufficient protection against ballistic missiles.
This was reported by The Sunday Times.
According to sources in the UK’s defense sector, several NATO countries have recently expressed frustration that Britain is not contributing enough to systems designed to protect Europe from long-range missile attacks.
A defense audit initiated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government also revealed that the UK does not have ground-based air defense systems to safeguard critical infrastructure or population centers against ballistic missiles, the report states.
During the Cold War, Britain prioritized defending against strikes from nuclear warhead missiles, neglecting the development of other air defense systems, The Sunday Times explains.
“The reason Britain has such weak air defense is that for 30 years, no one thought we needed it,” a senior UK defense official told the publication.
The source noted that the UK could be vulnerable to an attack “from any direction” if a ballistic missile were launched from a ship, submarine, or aircraft.
“In 15 years, a ballistic missile could strike the UK from anywhere in the world. But it’s an incredibly expensive problem to solve,” the official added.
The Sunday Times reports that in 2025, NATO will emphasize the development of ground-based air defense systems (SBAD) in its recommendations for member states to increase defense spending.
However, concerns exist within the UK defense sector that excessive focus on air defense as part of NATO’s collective security might divert funds from more specific British defense needs.
The British government has previously set a goal to position the UK as a leading NATO member in Europe.
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