Vladimir Putin could potentially redirect missiles currently bombarding Ukraine towards the British Isles, and there’d be no way to intercept them, warns a retired general.
These missiles, if launched from Russia, would take approximately 90 minutes to reach the UK. They could strike from all directions and are likely to arrive in waves of 60 to 90 at a time.
Retired General Sir Richard Barrons stated that Britain would be helpless against such an attack as the country’s armed forces lack the level of air and missile defence that Ukraine possesses. “We’ve not needed it”, he added.
READ MORE: Experts admit they’re trying to ‘lure UFOs’ to Earth with small ‘handheld’ nuclear reactors
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
(Image: TASS)
In an interview with The Sun’s World At War show, he warned: “The sort of missiles that fall on Kyiv could fall on London. And Kyiv’s air defences are way, way better. Even a quite elderly Russian cruise missile, I’m going to cite Kh-101 released from an aircraft over western Russia, arrives in London 90 minutes later with a 500 kilogram explosive warhead and an accuracy of two meters. So pick your door in Downing Street.”
The Kh-101 missile has the capability to hit most parts of Europe with its range of 1,739 miles. It can also travel at speeds of 600mph, reports the Mirror.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
It is designed to evade infrared scanners and radar by flying at a “terrain-hugging altitude”. Another missile that could reach the UK is the submarine-launched Kalibr cruise missile, which has a range of 1,553 miles. While the missiles could be launched from Russia, it would make more sense for the Kremlin to launch from the Atlantic, the Baltic or the North Sea, or “use an aircraft so the UK can be attacked as an island, 360 degrees.”
The government is currently working on how to bolster the UK’s defences, which is a “problem” that could cost Westminster £4billion. One of the options is to join Europe’s Sky Shield air defence system, which would see US Patriot missiles, Israeli Arrow-3s and German IRIS-T missiles deployed on British soil.
But until then, the UK has been forced to rely on the Royal Navy’s destroyers to knock missiles out of the sky. Sky Sabre missiles are used for medium-range air defence while RAF Typhoons intercept threats in UK airspace.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.