Britain’s Armed Forces are unable to protect Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks, defence experts have claimed.
RAF Typhoon jet fighters are thought to lack the weapons needed to repel an attack such as that launched by Iran on Tuesday, when it fired nearly 200 long-range missiles in its biggest assault yet on Israel. It meant the UK was [relegated to a supporting role,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/02/british-fighter-jets-defended-israel-iranian-attack/) assisting the US in defending its ally.
[Sir Ben Wallace,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/ba-be/ben-wallace/) the former defence secretary, said that the UK’s Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would also struggle to respond, while sources claimed that the Royal Navy’s carrier strike groups did not have enough sailors to operate effectively in a war zone.
Experts fear a lack of military investment is diminishing Britain’s ability to play a leading role in world events and warned that it left the country vulnerable.
Tom Sharpe, a retired navy commander, said: “Our involvement [in the response to Iran] was underwhelming and it’s a reflection of 40 years of underfunding.
Ach they have their wee besties America to help. We should focus on ourselves for a bit.
Well isn’t that kinda the point of having allies? Ok, UK can’t fight it directly but we can take the pressure off the USA to allow them to focus on the bit they’re good at. Same thought about NATO, one country might not have an aircraft carrier group but we can support in logistics and other areas or in other offensive aspects. Can’t keep trying to fight with an old mentality of going it alone cause wars are expensive af
Good, fuck em
Don’t fancy it
Wait until the Government revert back to them 80s scary adverts with if a nuclear weapon should explode on your High street & you should find yourself still alive then take a room door from off the hinges and lean it against a wall and you and your family of seven get behind the door and take cover.😂
It’s the UK armed forces not being up to defending the UK that we should worry about surely?
Telegraph says government should spend more money on defense ok
Let’s take this Israel/Iran/Lebanon conflict out of the equation for a second… Our military is an absolute fucking joke. We’d be overrun if any capable country decided they wanted to invade. Barely any funding, our weaponry and resources are years out of date, needs a complete overhaul.
It’s a good job we have no intention of doing that then. We should just wish all parties the best of luck and check back in with them in six months.
Good, use the money (likely billions GBP) to help homeless and pensioners with fuel bills first
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We’ll suddenly find billions to save banks in the event of a crash.
14 comments
***The Telegraph reports:***
Britain’s Armed Forces are unable to protect Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks, defence experts have claimed.
RAF Typhoon jet fighters are thought to lack the weapons needed to repel an attack such as that launched by Iran on Tuesday, when it fired nearly 200 long-range missiles in its biggest assault yet on Israel. It meant the UK was [relegated to a supporting role,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/02/british-fighter-jets-defended-israel-iranian-attack/) assisting the US in defending its ally.
[Sir Ben Wallace,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/ba-be/ben-wallace/) the former defence secretary, said that the UK’s Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would also struggle to respond, while sources claimed that the Royal Navy’s carrier strike groups did not have enough sailors to operate effectively in a war zone.
Experts fear a lack of military investment is diminishing Britain’s ability to play a leading role in world events and warned that it left the country vulnerable.
Tom Sharpe, a retired navy commander, said: “Our involvement [in the response to Iran] was underwhelming and it’s a reflection of 40 years of underfunding.
“Given what is going on in the Middle East and Russia, we need to expedite our ability to provide[ ballistic missile defence from our T45 destroyers.”](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/03/royal-navy-warships-gym-land-attack-missiles/)
**Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/02/uk-armed-forces-not-up-to-defending-israel-from-missiles/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/02/uk-armed-forces-not-up-to-defending-israel-from-missiles/)
Ach they have their wee besties America to help. We should focus on ourselves for a bit.
Well isn’t that kinda the point of having allies? Ok, UK can’t fight it directly but we can take the pressure off the USA to allow them to focus on the bit they’re good at. Same thought about NATO, one country might not have an aircraft carrier group but we can support in logistics and other areas or in other offensive aspects.
Can’t keep trying to fight with an old mentality of going it alone cause wars are expensive af
Good, fuck em
Don’t fancy it
Wait until the Government revert back to them 80s scary adverts with if a nuclear weapon should explode on your High street & you should find yourself still alive then take a room door from off the hinges and lean it against a wall and you and your family of seven get behind the door and take cover.😂
It’s the UK armed forces not being up to defending the UK that we should worry about surely?
Telegraph says government should spend more money on defense ok
Let’s take this Israel/Iran/Lebanon conflict out of the equation for a second… Our military is an absolute fucking joke. We’d be overrun if any capable country decided they wanted to invade. Barely any funding, our weaponry and resources are years out of date, needs a complete overhaul.
It’s a good job we have no intention of doing that then. We should just wish all parties the best of luck and check back in with them in six months.
Good, use the money (likely billions GBP) to help homeless and pensioners with fuel bills first
[removed]
[removed]
We’ll suddenly find billions to save banks in the event of a crash.