‘Iron Dome’ may be needed to protect London and other UK cities from missile attacks

A former UK security expert has warned an iron dome may be needed to protect London and other UK cities from attacks.

Former Cabinet Secretary and UK National Security Adviser Lord Sedwill has warned that the UK needs to bolster its defences amid a backdrop of wars in Ukraine and Iran.

Iron domes are integrated defence systems designed to shoot down rockets and mortar fire.

First developed in Israel, similar systems are now being adopted or developed by other countries, including in the US after Donald Trump unveiled plans for a ‘Golden Dome’ shield worth around £130 billion.

Last summer, Iran fired hundreds of missiles into Tel Aviv, which the Iron Dome gunned down. Although each blast is estimated to cost over £2 million, Lord Sedwill has urged that the UK needs a similar security system.

Lord Sedwill told the Evening Standard that ‘we certainly need proper air defences’, suggesting they could be built over ‘key cities and military facilities’.

‘The Gulf countries have developed systems quite like that’, he added.

In March, Iran launched strikes on joint US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, which prompted outcry from Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Of the missiles, one was shot down by a US warship while the other failed in flight.

Could an Iron Dome actually be built?

The UK is designing its own iron dome missile-busting defence system to block attacks.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the armed forces are developing an iron dome system because of a looming threat from missile attacks.

Britain could soon have its own version of the system to block ballistic and cruise missiles, Sir Richard said.

The high-ranking officer, who is also the chief of defence staff, told LBC: ‘We call it integrated air and missile defence, and we have, over 30 years, not really faced a threat from the air in that way.

‘The threat has evolved, Russia’s capability and willingness to use ballistic and cruise missiles has become more apparent.

‘It’s become clear that that peace dividend needs to be reversed, and we need to invest more in our radar capability, in our airborne air defence, and also in, ultimately, our ability to shoot down these drones and cruise missiles.’

Last month, the Israeli Defence Force warned that Iran was now capable of reaching cities like London following the first launch of a long-range missile by Tehran since the start of the war.

Experts speaking to Metro urged that Israel’s suggestion should be treated with ‘caution’ despite the recent Diego Garcia strike.

Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, told Metro: ‘The real danger here is not that Iran is about to strike London, but that competing strategic narratives around this event could escalate the conflict far beyond its current scope.’

Britain doesn’t currently have a missile system under one roof like Israel does, and only the Royal Navy operates a ballistic missile defence capability.

Sir Richard continued: ‘So we know right across Nato that one of the biggest gaps in Nato’s capability is integrated air and missile defence, and we are part of that as the UK.

‘That’s one of the highest priorities that the Secretary General set at the Washington summit last year, and I know that that will be an issue that will come up at the Nato Ankara summit in 2026.

‘We will be responding to that as a nation, alongside our allies. And there is a lot to do.’

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