UK defence in 2025: Integrated air and missile defence

Changes in the geopolitical environment, the nature of the conflict in Ukraine and developments in missile and unmanned systems technologies have increased attention on air and missile defence and the ability of the UK to defend itself.

Existing UK air defence capability

The UK adopts a “multi-layered approach to air and missile defence” of the UK homeland, including in collaboration with allies.

 The armed forces operate air defence assets across all three services which can be deployed for localised defence of the UK mainland, should they be required. That capability is supported by an extensive early warning radar network in the UK, which also forms a part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATO IAMD) system, of which the UK is a part, and the US ballistic missile defence system.

The UK does not have a ballistic missile defence capability, akin to Israel’s air defence system, often referred to as the ‘Iron Dome’. The Royal Navy is the only service that operates a ballistic missile defence capability.

Cooperation with allies

As a NATO ally, the UK is part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence system (NATO IAMD).

Work is underway with allies to strengthen cooperation on the integration and interoperability of different air defence systems across the NATO alliance (the Delivering Integrated Air and Missile Operational Networked Defences/DIAMOND initiative).

In 2022, the UK also signed a Letter of Intent to join the European Sky Shield initiative (ESSI), led by Germany. The ESSI seeks to establish a multi-layered, ground-based integrated European air defence system, with an anti-ballistic missile capability, through the common acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by participating European nations. By the end of 2024 there were 23 participating nations in the project, albeit with some notable exceptions including France, Italy and Poland.

Concerns over capability shortfalls and the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review

Given the changing nature of the aerial threat, the UK is considered by many to be increasingly vulnerable.

Several commentators have called for the development of a UK missile defence shield, or ‘iron dome’, akin to Israel’s air defence system. Others disagree, with some calling for more targeted measures including the deployment of military assets to protect major population centres and the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

Any measures to increase the UK’s air defence capabilities, either through existing programmes or by procuring off-the-shelf solutions, are likely to be costly, potentially technologically complex and will take time to deliver.

The government has said that air defence has become “increasingly important” and that it will be considered as part of the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review.  That review is expected to report by the end of spring 2025.