Tories pledge 10bn 'Britannia Shield' air defence system

Image caption, The UK's existing Sky Sabre air defence system, seen in 2022 at the Royal Artillery's change of colours parade at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island The Conservatives have pledged to invest in a new missile and drone defence system if voted into government at the next election. Branding it Britannia Shield, the party said it would spend up to £10bn over a decade on an integrated network of radar, command and control systems, as well as interceptor missiles. In a speech to the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge will describe it as the most significant upgrade to UK air defence for generations. In response, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the Tories had an abysmal record of defending Britain during their 14 years in power, adding: They owe Britain an apology, not another lecture. The Tories described their plans as a British'Iron Dome', a reference to Israel's elaborate air defence system .