RAF uses missiles worth up to £2million to shoot down Iranian drones worth £25k

Iran has launched more than 2,000 suicide drones since the conflict erupted on Saturday morning - and the RAF has deployed Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets to intercept the barrage of aircraft.

On Sunday, an RAF pilot used a highly advanced missile to blast a Qatar-bound Iranian drone out of the sky - the first interception by British forces since the US and Israel began their bombing campaign.

A Typhoon was used in the dramatic takedown, which is equipped with highly advanced short, medium and long-range missiles.

The cost of the advanced projectiles can range from around £200,000 all the way up to £2million.

Meanwhile, the Iranian drones they intercept are priced at just a fraction of that price, believed to be around £26,000.

Military analysts have hit out at the RAF for failing to take on board the successes of Ukraine against Russian invaders.

Ukrainian forces routinely used their own drones - as opposed to missiles - to take out advancing Russian projectiles from the sky, in addition to anti-military artillery and heavy machine guns.

William Alberque, a missile and arms control expert from the Pacific Forum think tank, criticised the RAF's strategy as wasteful, saying it was akin to engaging in a “sword fight with someone armed with a pen”.

He told The Times: “We’re talking about a multimillion-pound air platform that costs however much per minute to be in the air, plus the turnaround of maintenance, and then the price of an air-to-air missile, against something that costs 20 grand to manufacture.

“I can’t blame a pilot for engaging in a target and shooting it down, but if you see a drone, and there’s nothing in your airspace, and your first choice is a missile? Come on.”

He added: “There’s no MoD limitation on bullets, but there is certainly a deficit of air-to-air missiles.”

The approach also drew criticism from President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the Ukrainian leader urging Western forces to deploy a range of different weapons to defend the skies.

He said: “This is a serious challenge. We need to know how aviation fights drones, we need the experience that Ukrainians have.

"We need mobile fire groups, interceptor drones, the right systems.”

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that Britain will send air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to protect military personnel in Cyprus following the attack on RAF Akrotiri.

Helicopters with counter-drone capabilities will also form part of the contingent being sent to Mediterranean.

The Prime Minister wrote on social media: “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.

“We’re continuing our defensive operations, and I’ve just spoken with the President of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and HMS Dragon is to be deployed to the region."

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