// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Tories pledge £10bn 'Britannia Shield' air defence system
The UK's existing Sky Sabre air defence system, seen in 2022 at the Royal Artillery's change of colours parade at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island
The Conservatives have pledged to invest in a new missile and drone defence system if voted into government at the next election.
Branding it "Britannia Shield", the party said it would spend up to £10bn over a decade on an integrated network of radar, command and control systems, as well as interceptor missiles.
In a speech to the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge will describe it as "the most significant upgrade to UK air defence for generations".
In response, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the Tories had an "abysmal record" of defending Britain during their 14 years in power, adding: "They owe Britain an apology, not another lecture."
The Tories described their plans as "a British 'Iron Dome'", a reference to Israel's elaborate air defence system.
The party said it would be capable of defending the UK's critical national infrastructure, military bases and sovereign territories from sophisticated threats.
It added that the proposal would strengthen the UK's air defence systems at a time when Nato allies have warned they are facing repeated Russian drone incursions.
The party also cited a report from the defence committee of MPs last November which said the UK was lagging behind its European counterparts in having a plan to defend itself and overseas territories from a military attack.
The UK's existing Sky Sabre system has previously been deployed in Poland as part of its support for Ukraine