The Times: Britain is not immune to potential ballistic missile attacks

The territory of Great Britain is practically not protected from a possible attack by non-nuclear ballistic missiles. This is the conclusion of an investigation by the British newspaper The Times.

Russia's devastating attacks on Ukraine using long-range missiles have led many European countries to rush to buy more air defenses, while the UK lacks the ground-based air defenses to protect critical infrastructure or populations from ballistic missiles, DW reports.

Interviews with more than a dozen active-duty military personnel and defense experts have revealed the growing threat to the UK and its overseas military bases as China, Russia and Iran rapidly develop ballistic missiles that can cross continents at speeds several times the speed of sound.

According to The Times, the UK has not invested in missile defence systems for decades, whether on land, in the air or at sea. As a result, modern Royal Air Force fighter jets do not have missile systems to intercept ballistic missiles. None of the existing ground-based air defence systems are designed to destroy such missiles.

The reason the UK has very weak air defences is because for 30 years no one thought we needed them, the source said.