British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch unveils 10 billion pound air defense system

British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch unveiled plans for an air defense system called 'British Shield' with an estimated cost of 10 billion pounds, which she described as a British version of Iron Dome. The system will defend cities, power stations and military bases against missiles and drones launched by hostile nations.

According to the plan, the system will include a network of radars, command and control centers, interceptors and counter-drone capabilities to defend against missiles and drones from hostile states such as Russia or Iran. The Conservatives say the system can be deployed within five years.

Badenoch said the government's first duty is to protect the country and accused Labour of failing to fulfill that responsibility. She said the world will not wait for Britain to be ready, and 'war has returned to Europe.'

Defense spokesman James Cartlidge said a 10 billion pound budget would make the project one of Britain's most significant military programs since the Cold War. The plan comes after a House of Commons defense committee warned last year that Britain has almost nothing in air defense compared to its allies.

According to reports, the United States withdrew its strategic bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire this week amid fears of an Iranian plot against the base. Drones launched by Iranian proxies struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and Iran launched missiles at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, where a joint British-American base is located.