Britain must start developing a sophisticated missle defence system like Israel now to protect against growing security threats, a former Tory parliamentarian and soldier has warned.

In a comment piece for The Daily Mail, ex-Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely warned the government that Russia‘s aggression and the expanding war in the Middle East are among reasons Britain “desperately needs to prepare itself for war and invest in its own version of the Iron Dome”.

The UK has provoked the ire of Moscow by offering steadfast support to Ukraine including military aid, training for its soldiers, and heavy sanctions on Russia, and the regime has previously threatened to strike British military facilities for interfering in the war.

The invasion prompted European powers to beef up their security, with Mr Seely observing that “Germany has already said it will procure its own missile defence system as part of a Nato project, at a total cost of £4billion”, while Poland, which borders Russia, is “also rushing to develop its own defences”.

Mr Seely fears that if the UK sits on its hands, it may have to buy into “someone else’s technology – late”.

He acknowledged that Britain’s geography and good relations its neighbours means the prospect of having to fend off a barrage of enemy missiles is difficult to imagine at present.

But the umbrella of US protection Europe has “lived lazily under” since the Second World War could be in doubt if Donald Trump returns to the White House, or change under any other future President, Mr Seely warned.

Britain, he says, is “acutely vulnerable to sustained air attack by submarine-launched missiles”, especially if our limited forces were diverted elsewhere in concert with NATO allies.

“In that situation, air defence batteries would be protecting our troops on the frontline, our destroyers would be protecting aircraft carriers and our fighter jets would be shooting down the enemy on the battlefield.”

He argued that China’s persistent threats to mount a powergrab on Taiwan mean the UK and its European allies face a trifecta of major regional conflicts and tensions that they’re at risk of being dragged into.

Israel‘s Iron Dome intercepts short-range rockets, shells and mortars but is just one of several technologies used by Israel to prevent missiles fired from various distances striking its cities.

Others include David’s Sling designed to pick off longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium-range or long-range ballistic missiles and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems which defend against medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles.

Mr Seely said Britain needs similarly layered protection, with a European-wide dome, and the means to take out rockets that reach

“The bricks are already in place,” he said, adding: “There are highly ­sophisticated radar bases in the UK. We have a medium-range missile system called Sky Sabre.

“BAE on the Isle of Wight makes high-tech naval radars. We are a world leader in electronic ­counter-drone technologies.

He warned that Britain is especially vulnerable from the north, as, unlike with rockets fired over the Baltic Sea, there wouldn’t be NATO assets to intercept them.

“Our umbrella of defence must stretch from ­Falmouth to Fort William,” he warned.