UK vulnerable to potential missile or drone attack, says military chief

A Royal Navy Type-45 destroyer test-fires its defensive flare system. The UK’s six Type-45 destroyers are its only counter-missile system comparable to the US Patriot or German Iris-T, according to the previous chief of the UK defence staff. Photograph: Lt Cdr Oliver Clark/Royal Navy/MoD/Crown copyright/PA

Britain’s most senior military officer has said the war in Ukraine had revealed a potential vulnerability of the UK to missile and drone attack, arguing it is time for greater discussion about improving homeland security.

Adm Sir Tony Radakin told a defence industry conference in London that there was “an aggressive world out there in terms of state threats”, noting specifically that it was becoming easy to “get close to a country and fly drones in”.