The Times: British defense is vulnerable/we failed to intercept Iranian missiles

According to Isna, NATO will ask British Prime Minister Kerr Starmer to increase its military spending in the field of air and missile defense, and this request will be made during this year when the NATO military alliance asks its members to designate areas to strengthen their collective defense. put in priority, it will be officially stated.

“Sunday Times” newspaper on Sunday and in a report citing some military sources writes: “A number of NATO member states have recently expressed their concern and frustration that Britain is not doing enough to protect Europe against long-range missile attacks. have expressed.”

The independent panel leading the Strategic Defense Review, commissioned by the British government to assess the health and future direction of the armed forces, is deeply concerned about “gaps in Britain’s missile defences”.

It is expected that “George Roberston”, who was the former British defense minister and the NATO secretary general, and who currently leads the said independent commission, along with “Richard Barons”, one of the former British commanders, will focus on “the need for more investment in the field of British defense”.

It is said that the draft plan of NATO under the title “Capability Goal 2025” will increase the need for British investment in air defense systems to defend the country’s important infrastructure such as nuclear energy, stations or military bases.

The possibility of a missile attack on England in the future

The Sunday Times emphasizes in this report: “Interviews with several military personnel and defense experts have shown that there is a growing threat against Britain and its military assets abroad, while countries such as China, Russia and Iran are rapidly developing missiles. They are engaged in ballistics, which can cross continents at high speed.

This English newspaper continues, referring to the defense capability of some countries such as Iran, Russia and Yemen, as well as the weakness that England is facing, and writes: “The warships of the British Royal Navy are in danger of being attacked by more advanced ballistic missiles; Missiles that groups such as the Houthis (Yemen’s Ansarullah) have. “Also, overseas military bases and British spy facilities, including in Cyprus, are under increasing threat from non-state actors and terrorists.”

The Sunday Times reports in an interview with military sources: “These senior sources warn that Britain is at risk now and that within 15 years, a ballistic missile will be able to reach Britain from anywhere in the world. In addition, as part of a review of its defense strategy, the British Navy is pressing the government to agree funding for a replacement destroyer to defend the UK against a ballistic missile attack. Also, according to these military sources, when commitments such as nuclear deterrence are excluded, Britain spends only 1.6% of GDP on conventional defense.

This English media emphasizes once again: “While the war in Ukraine has caused European countries to think about buying more air defense systems, Britain has no air defenses based on the ground to protect its critical infrastructure against ballistic missiles; The gap and weakness that has become a concern for John Haley, the Minister of Defense of this country.

Referring to the capabilities of the Yemeni army, James Cartledge, the Shadow Defense Minister in England, says: “There are concerns in the British Ministry of Defense regarding the operations of the Houthis (Yemen’s Ansarullah) and they may be able to target British warships with more sophisticated ballistic missiles.”

Britain was not able to intercept the missiles in Iran’s operation against Israel

“Sunday Times” referring to the current developments in West Asia, which began after the Zionist regime’s aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and also referring to Iran’s operation against the occupying regime in October last year, writes: “Although in the first operation Iran against Israel, Britain was able to intercept a number of missile attacks from Akratari, the country’s military base in Cyprus, but in Iran’s second operation against Israel, the British Air Force’s role in surveillance and interception was limited because Its fighter jets lack missile systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles; Missiles that are considered the most difficult type of missile to shoot down due to their speed and trajectory.

This English media once again compares the power and strength of countries like Iran, Russia and China with a European country and writes: “Iran currently has an arsenal of about 3000 ballistic missiles, including Imad and Qadr, which can move at a speed of 4600 miles per hour. Russia also has hundreds of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The country recently tested the Orshnik missile in Ukraine and it can reach 10 times the speed of sound to targets at a distance of 3,410 miles, which is long enough to reach European countries. In addition, China and the United States are also in an arms race to upgrade their hypersonic missiles; “Missiles that maneuver in the air and destroy them are more difficult.”

A senior military source told The Sunday Times: “The reason the UK doesn’t have such a capability is because for 30 years no one has considered whether we need such systems. “People may not think that Britain is in danger, but the truth is that Britain is really in danger right now.”

This English newspaper adds: “Recently, groups such as the Houthis (Yemen’s Ansarullah) have gained access to long-range weapons and, like Iran, are firing ballistic missiles at Israel. Although the Yemeni army does not have the range of a missile capable of attacking Britain, the country’s two military bases in Cyprus have become a growing concern for the British Ministry of Defense and are known as a vulnerable target.

Referring to other dangers and threats against Britain, “Sunday Times” writes: “Other war-torn countries in the Middle East are very close to Britain. If a military group in Libya is equipped with ballistic missiles from other countries such as Russia, it will probably be considered a threat to London.”

“Within the next 15 years, a ballistic missile will be able to hit anywhere in the world,” a senior military source said. hit britain But solving this problem is very expensive and costly.”

What will Britain do to close the gaps?

At the same time as the threats against Britain have grown, the country’s allies have spent tens of billions of pounds to strengthen Britain’s military. For example, the US already has extensive anti-ballistic missile systems to protect itself as well as its European NATO partners. The Zionist regime has also developed one of the “world’s most advanced multi-layered missile defense systems” of which the Iron Dome is an integral part. Of course, Tel Aviv’s performance against the axis of resistance has shown that apparently it cannot be counted on.

In addition, Germany, worried about the gap in European air defense, signed a 3.2 billion pound contract with the Zionist regime last year to buy “Pikan-3”, a long-range system designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere. signed

In October, Starmer signed a security agreement with Germany to cooperate on missile defense, including through the European Sky Shield initiative. Haley also created the Diamond Initiative as a partnership with other NATO countries to better integrate missile defense. Britain has also joined a European program to develop new long-range missiles.

Richard Knighton, commander of the British Air Force, said in a speech at the Freeman Air and Space Institute in November: “We used to say that when threats are eliminated, investment will be a priority, but this has changed, and we have in Ukraine the importance of air defense.” And also if you look at what happened in Israel and the Middle East, you will notice that the picture of threats has changed.”

According to the Ministry of Defence, the number of ships in the British Navy has reached its “lowest level” in history, with only 2 of its 6 advanced Type 45 destroyers currently operational.

A sharp reduction in operational ships has raised concerns about Britain’s security, with MPs warning that the UK is increasingly “vulnerable” to naval and air attacks.

On the other hand, former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government announced in January last year that it had upgraded the Sea Viper naval air defense missile system at a cost of 405 million pounds to provide it with medium-range anti-ballistic capability and become the most advanced system in Europe. However, the program is not expected to be fully introduced until the early 2030s.

Can Britain achieve NATO’s goals?

A spokesman for the British government says: “Our commitment to NATO is unwavering and we are fully prepared to show deterrence and defend ourselves alongside our NATO allies against any threat.” “More broadly, national security is the foundation of our agenda for change.”

US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to use the next NATO summit in June 2025 to ask members to spend five percent of their gross domestic product on the military. England spends less than half that, and although Starmer has pledged to raise that figure to 2.5%, no timetable has been set.

The “Sunday Times” newspaper writes in the end: “At the same time as Britain’s competitors grow and strengthen, the question is whether the country’s ministers can still evade NATO’s goals?”

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