Government told to build Iron Dome as UK must ‘prepare for all scenarios’

The Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has said the government must build an Israeli type Iron Dome as the UK needs to “prepare for all scenarios.”

Lt. Colonel Ellwood who is a former army officer has said the government must seriously consider building the Iron Dome in the next defence review, which will cost an estimated £800 million.

The former chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee told the Express.co.uk “At present the UK maintains 24/7 surveillance of our skies with Typhoons on 30 minutes notice to move, at RAF Coningsby and Lossiemouth, to intercept any rogue presence heading towards UK air space.

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“Our Type 45’s destroyers are armed with the world leading Sea Viper system (currently operating in the Red Sea), able to eliminate multiple airborne targets simultaneously. And finally, the Sky Sabre air defence system has entered service in the British Army – all combined – offering a formidable umbrella of protection.

“However the effectiveness of Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defence system starkly illustrates both where modern conflict is heading, with the increasing utility of kamikaze drones, and value in having a reliable, umbrella of protection- permanently in place.”

Ellwood said there “is no doubt this must be considered in the UK’s forthcoming defence review.”

He told The Telegraph, “We need to prepare for all scenarios.

“We need to prepare for a multitude of types of attack from the non-state to state actors. And that will require investments, absolutely, in an Iron Dome for the UK.

“This must be seen as a wake-up call. We must recognise where the world is going. We need to invest. It’s absolutely important to spend 3% of GDP. How do we spend it? This is a great example.”