Britain will be protected from air attack by its own 'Iron Dome' defences under a Tory government, Kemi Badenoch has vowed. 

The Conservative leader announced plans for a £10billion system, dubbed Britannia Shield, to guard cities, power plants and Army bases from missiles and drones fired by enemies such as Russia or Iran.

Similar to the hardware used by Israel to defend itself, it would provide a network of radar, command and control systems, interceptors and counter-drone capabilities.

The Tories say it is needed because Labour – which has still not set out how it will reach its target of spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 – is failing to do enough to guarantee the security of the UK, its overseas territories and bases in an increasingly hostile world.

Mrs Badenoch said: 'The first duty of government is to defend the country and keep people safe. Labour are failing that basic test.

'The world will not wait for Britain to get ready. War has returned to Europe. Missiles and drones are transforming warfare in the Middle East. Cheap weapons can now threaten cities, military bases and critical infrastructure in ways that would have sounded like science fiction a generation ago.

'If a missile or drone is launched at Britain, we do not get a second chance to wish we had prepared.

'That is why we are announcing Britannia Shield: a new national missile-and-drone defence system to protect the whole United Kingdom, our sovereign territories and British bases overseas.'

There were fresh warnings on Monday that President Vladimir Putin is putting lives at risk in Europe as Russian drones and missiles menaced Moldova. 

Projectiles fired during an attack on Ukraine hit a passenger bus across the border just days after drones entered the country's airspace and scattered debris. 

Moldova, a country between Ukraine and Romania, was once part of the Soviet Union.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: 'Europe has seen a spike in the Russian hybrid attacks and sabotage attempts and airspace violations in recent weeks. Russian missiles and drones violated Moldovan airspace again over the weekend. This is completely unacceptable.'

The Tories, who have already pledged to increase defence spending by £10billion a year by cutting welfare, say their Integrated Air and Missile Defence system could be deployed within five years.

Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge, who will set out details in his speech to the party's conference in Birmingham on Tuesday, added: 'With a £10billion budget, this would be one of Britain's most significant military programmes since the Cold War.

'But one that is totally necessary because of the threats we face. And only possible because of our willingness to take the tough decisions to fund defence.'

The promise comes after a report by the Commons defence committee last year highlighted warnings that Britain has 'next to nothing' in air defences compared with its allies.

The threats to the country were illustrated on Monday as the US dramatically withdrew its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire over fears of an Iranian plot against the base. 

Russian drones have previously been sighted over the base as well as RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. Just last week the Kremlin warned that it would retaliate with 'nuclear weapons' if Britain or Nato took military action against its territory.

Over the summer Moscow threatened to target UK factories in response to Government support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, intelligence services in Germany warned that the Kremlin's 'shadow war' against Europe is entering a more dangerous phase.

Iran is also seen as a growing threat after drones launched by its proxies hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Tehran fired missiles at the Chagos islands, home to the crucial joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base.

The Tories' Britannia Shield is inspired by Israel's multibillion-dollar Iron Dome, which has proved highly effective since 2011.

Replicating the system here would be difficult, however, because the UK's landmass is 11 times greater and it has many more large cities.

At a Tory conference on Tuesday, Labour will be accused of dithering and delay over defence funding.

A Labour spokesman insisted: 'Andy Burnham's Labour Government is delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. Keeping Britain safe is the first priority of this Government.'

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Andy Burnham is shirking his responsibility to protect us from hostile powers...but Kemi's committed to keeping Britain safe