British tech gurus design cheap AI missiles to protect towns and cities across Europe from Russian attacks

British tech gurus design cheap AI missiles to protect towns and cities across Europe from Russian attacks The technology is similar to Israel's famous Iron Dome system, which creates a virtual bubble of protection over key elements in the country. The missiles will be operational next year. Technology experts are designing affordable AI missiles that create "Iron Domes" to protect European cities from potential Russian drone attacks. The weapons were displayed on Monday by military firm Helsing, as part of its new Contra air defence system. The platform has been built to counter Russia's most advanced jet-powered drones and cruise missiles. These missiles have devastated parts of Ukraine in recent weeks. Sophisticated Terminator-style AI, linked to radars and sensors, can quickly detect aerial threats before deciding whether to launch one of two new interceptor missiles: the AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush. It is similar to Israel's famous Iron Dome system, which creates a virtual half-sphere barrier of protection over key elements in the country. The development of the AI missiles comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin could use drones to attack critical infrastructure, defence firms and military bases across Europe. The Kremlin's production of Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones has risen in recent weeks, with Moscow now able to build 4,000 units a month, intelligence reports claim. Russia is able to launch hundreds of the aircraft at a time. According to Helsing, its new system could counter this, with the artificial intelligence able to detect and coordinate interceptions against hundreds or even thousands of incoming drones and cruise missiles at the same time. "Contra ends the air defence dilemma: slow fair-weather drones, or million-euro missiles fired at cheap, mass-produced targets," said Niklas Köhler, Helsing's co-founder and president. According to the Daily Mail, major parts of the two new missiles' development have been done in the UK. Both of the new missiles cost less than £100,000. This is much cheaper than more hi-tech systems like US-manufactured Patriot missiles, which cost more than £3 million each and have been used to down Iranian drones over the Middle East. They can be launched from containers placed on the back of a lorry, a ship or in a field. Helsing also said it would be able to produce thousands of missiles a month, at sites across Europe. The missiles are currently completing tests and will be operational later next year.