UK urged to build new missile shield with NATO after Russian drone incursions

The UK should work with NATO allies to develop an integrated air and missile defence system, two experts say. It comes after at least 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace which received widespread condemnation and concern from across NATO.

A minimum of three drones were shot down by scrambled allied fighter jets on Wednesday - a significantly lower rate than that seen in Ukraine (around 80-85%) where Kyiv's forces repel wave attacks of Russian one-way UAVs on an almost daily basis. Two authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review say the incident in Poland is a message to NATO to beef up its air defences. Former White House adviser Fiona Hill said: "The message from this is that there needs to create an integrated air and ballistic missile defence system."

Speaking to The Guardian, she added European nations are "going to have to realise they will have to do this themselves".

She warned NATO's European allies must be prepared to defend the alliance's eastern flank without extra American support, saying US President Donald Trump has "no desire to go to war, except at home".

NATO's top military commander, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich, said on Thursday it remains unclear whether the incursion was intentional or not.

Poland insists it believes it was - something Russia denies, claiming it was attacking Ukraine and did not intend to strike any targets in Poland.

No injuries were reported but property was damaged as result of the drone incursion.

Retired British Army general Sir Richard Barrons, who was another author of the defence review, said the number of drones involved in the incident suggested "it was clearly a deliberate incursion" by Moscow.

He told The Guardian it underlined current NATO defences were "well short of dealing with what is a small tactical problem".

This week, the UK announced it will manufacture and jointly develop a new air defence interceptor drone with Ukraine.

Under Project Octopus, the interceptors will be mass produced in the UK with the aim of producing thousands per month to help Kyiv fend off swarms of Moscow drones.

Defence Secretary John Healey described it as a "win-win" for Britain at the DSEI arms fair in London on Thursday.