Breaking News: UK Prepares for Drone and Missile Storm with Advanced Ground-Based Air Defence System.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is pressing forward with its strategic Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) modernisation programme in response to the proliferation of drone warfare and advanced missile threats, as highlighted in a recent UK Parliamentary report dated April 23, 2025. This initiative is seen as a cornerstone of the British Army’s transformation and a critical component in securing UK and allied forces against the realities of 21st-century warfare.
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The United Kingdom steps up air defence readiness with new Ground-Based Air Defence systems to counter evolving drone and missile threats. (Picture source: editing Army Recognition Group)

British Defence Minister Maria Eagle detailed to UK Parliament that the Land GBAD (Ground-Based Air Defence) program is designed to establish a layered and integrated air defence system. This approach ensures that various aerial threats, including Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), fast jets, and cruise missiles, can be effectively countered across a range of altitudes and distances. The architecture under development includes capabilities for Counter-Small Air Targets, Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD), and Medium Range Air Defence (MRAD).

As part of the roadmap, the British Army aims to reach an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for Medium Range Air Defence by July 2026. This milestone includes the deployment of two Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Centres and two enhanced Wireless Enabled Network (WEN) systems. By June 2027, the programme will also integrate 800 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) from Thales Belfast—multi-target, precision-guided weapons well-suited for neutralising UAS, helicopters, and light aircraft.

The war in Ukraine has dramatically reshaped the understanding of modern air defence requirements. The widespread and cost-effective use of drones, loitering munitions, and long-range missile strikes by both sides has exposed critical vulnerabilities in conventional defences. Ukrainian forces have relied heavily on mobile air defence systems and jamming technologies to neutralise threats, while Russian tactics have demonstrated the destructive potential of massed drone and missile barrages.

For NATO members like the UK, these lessons have proven pivotal. Britain’s current air defence coverage was shown to be lacking during a 2022 war-gaming simulation conducted with the Gladiator training system. The results revealed that a large-scale coordinated missile attack could overwhelm domestic systems, inflicting severe damage on key military infrastructure. The Land GBAD programme, therefore, is not just an update—it is a fundamental necessity for defending against the full spectrum of modern aerial threats.

Spearheading this initiative is the British Army’s 7th Air Defence Group, headquartered at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island. The group comprises the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery—equipped with the Starstreak High Velocity Missile system—and the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, which operates the cutting-edge Sky Sabre system. These are supported by the 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery, a vital reserve component.

The Sky Sabre system, officially introduced in 2022 to replace the ageing Rapier, offers leap-ahead capabilities. It integrates radar, command and control, and missile launch systems to simultaneously guide multiple missiles at different targets—a key advantage in high-threat environments saturated by drones or cruise missiles.

Recognising the rapidly growing threat posed by drones, the GBAD programme has initiated the deployment of Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) for dismounted close combat units. While these capabilities are still limited in number, efforts are underway to scale and enhance them.

The UK is now pivoting to focus on non-kinetic C-UAS solutions such as directed energy weapons and electromagnetic disruption systems. Among the innovations is the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), developed to disable drones using powerful bursts of radio energy—an effective and reusable alternative to conventional ammunition in drone-saturated battlefields.

The GBAD programme is not just a tactical requirement but also an industrial investment. The procurement of 800 LMMs from Thales Belfast demonstrates the UK's intent to strengthen its domestic defence manufacturing base. This aligns with the broader goals outlined in the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, which emphasise sovereign capability, NATO interoperability, and readiness for large-scale conflict.

In the context of increasing geopolitical instability, and with NATO adapting to a new threat environment shaped by Russia’s actions and Chinese military growth, the UK’s focus on enhancing GBAD is timely and essential. Ground-Based Air Defence will not only shield critical infrastructure and deployed forces but also provide strategic depth in coalition operations.

As global military doctrines evolve under the pressure of drone proliferation and precision strike capabilities, the UK’s Ground-Based Air Defence modernisation is a decisive step toward future-proofing its forces. The Land GBAD programme, with its integrated structure, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, and layered defence philosophy, marks a transformational shift in British air defence strategy—one that will shape the security of the British Isles and its allies for years to come.