Approved work: Defending UK airspace

This POSTnote will provide an overview of integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) for defending against airborne threats including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.  

In 2024, the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee heard that in the case of conflict between NATO and Russia, the UK would become an attractive target. However, the UK’s air defence systems were described as “negligible”, and stakeholders say the UK needs to increase its investment in integrated IAMD to detect, track and neutralise airborne threats.  

This POSTnote would answer the questions: what airborne threats does the UK face, what are the UK’s current capabilities to counter them, and what plans are in place to enhance the UK’s IAMD? The POSTnote will also include an international comparison with other IAMD systems globally. 

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