MoD buys £78m Falklands defence shield from Israel
Britain has spent £78 million protecting the Falkland Islands with a missile defence shield used by Israel.
The Sky Sabre system, which uses the technology behind Israel’s Iron Dome mobile air defence system, can intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. It was part of a £280 million renewal package for the islands announced by Michael Fallon as defence secretary in 2015.
The shield, which will come into service by 2020, connects radar stations, missile launchers and aircraft. It can be used to manage defences and launch attacks on an enemy. It was used in the Iron Dome, which shot down hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in 2012.
Details of the deal came after Argentina signed a contract to buy five Super Étendard warplanes from France.