3 min read
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how mass rocket barrages, swarms of drones, and anti-tank missiles can overwhelm unprepared forces. The British Army, responsible for guarding Europe’s eastern flank in the absence of US support, must urgently address these gaps in its defences. The quickest way to achieve this is by adopting Israel’s battle-tested military technology – from Iron Dome interceptors to advanced drones – which has proven effective against the very threats British forces currently face. Integrating these Israeli systems would immediately enhance the UK’s ability to deter and defeat rocket barrages, ballistic missiles, and drone swarms on NATO’s front lines.
Israel’s multi-layered air defence – Iron Dome for short-range rockets, David’s Sling for medium-range missiles, and Arrow-3 for ballistic threats – has repeatedly proven its worth in combat. Iron Dome alone has intercepted thousands of rockets with an approximate 90% success rate, preventing countless casualties. The newer David’s Sling and Arrow systems have also intercepted live enemy missiles in the past year. These are exactly the types of threats that British troops or European cities could encounter from a peer adversary. Deploying these field-tested defences would provide UK forces with an immediate, reliable shield against everything from mortar bombs to long-range missiles – a capability that even NATO partners like Germany are now acquiring from Israel.
Modern Russian anti-tank weapons have devastated armoured vehicles in Ukraine. Israel’s Trophy active protection system provides a battle-tested solution to keep tanks operational. Mounted on a tank, Trophy detects and intercepts incoming anti-tank missiles or rockets mid-flight. On Israeli Merkava tanks, Trophy has achieved over 90% success, intercepting hundreds of projectiles aimed at vehicles – and no Trophy-equipped tank has been lost to enemy fire. Equipping this system on Britain’s Challenger tanks and other vehicles would similarly neutralise Russia’s Kornet missiles or RPG ambushes, significantly enhancing crew survival. Notably, Trophy can even intercept loitering kamikaze drones that threaten armour. It's no surprise that the US and Germany have rushed to install Trophy on their Abrams and Leopard tanks – Britain should take similar action.
Small drones have become a serious threat on the battlefield, and here, too, Israeli technology is leading the way. The British Army has started deploying the Israeli Smart Shooter sight to assist soldiers in shooting down drones. This AI-assisted sight automatically locks onto a moving drone and fires only when a hit is certain, meaning even ordinary riflemen can take down small UAVs with much greater ease. By equipping troops in Eastern Europe with significantly more Smart Shooters, Britain greatly enhances its front-line defence against the kind of inexpensive spy drones and bomb-dropping UAVs that Russia uses.
Drones are not just targets; they are also weapons that Britain must wield. Israel pioneered loitering munitions (also known as “kamikaze drones”) like the Harop, which can roam overhead and then dive onto targets with lethal effect. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Israeli-made Harop drones helped destroy dozens of enemy armour and air-defence units, tipping the balance of that conflict. If the British Army acquires similar proven loitering drones and advanced Israeli surveillance UAVs, it would gain the ability to locate and strike high-value enemy targets (such as artillery batteries or air-defence radars) from afar. In a potential clash with Russia, possessing an arsenal of battle-tested drones for both ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and precision strikes would provide British forces with a decisive advantage.
UK–Israel defence ties also provide critical know-how. Israeli F-35 pilots and British RAF pilots have already flown side by side in exercises, and the UK has hosted Israeli officers at its Staff College. These officers bring a wealth of expertise in integrated air defence and counter-drone operations. Deepening this cooperation – through liaison officers, briefings, and joint drills – would ensure that Britain gains the full benefit of Israel’s combat experience when using Israeli-made systems. Learning directly from the IDF’s battlefield lessons will assist British commanders in refining their tactics for employing this equipment on Europe’s frontlines.
Ultimately, equipping the British Army with Israel’s battlefield-proven systems is about speed and certainty; the UK cannot afford to wait years for new capabilities or gamble on untested technology. Israeli defence solutions have proven their ability to save lives and outperform modern threats, now. At a time when conflict in Europe is no longer theoretical, and time is of the essence, Britain should seize every advantage that Israeli innovation offers.