The UK Government has announced a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command and a £1 billion investment in a pioneering battlefield system.
The Ministry of Defence will develop a new Digital Targeting Web to better connect Armed Forces weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions for targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster.
This pioneering digital capability will give the UK a decisive advantage through greater integration across domains, new AI and software, and better communication between our Armed Forces, the UK Government said. As an example, a threat could be identified by a sensor on a ship or in space before being disabled by an F-35 aircraft, drone, or offensive cyber operation.
The Ministry of Defence will also establish a Cyber and Electromagnetic Command. It will sit under General Sir James Hockenhull’s Command and follows the MOD having to protect UK military networks against more than 90,000 ‘sub-threshold’ attacks in the last two years. The Command will lead defensive cyber operations and coordinate offensive cyber capabilities with the National Cyber Force.
The new Command will also harness all the Armed Forces’ expertise in electromagnetic warfare, helping them to seize and hold the initiative in a high-tempo race for military advantage – for example, through degrading command and control, jamming signals to drones or missiles and intercepting an adversary’s communications.
The announcements come as part of the publication of the UK Government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
“Ways of warfare are rapidly changing – with the UK facing daily cyber-attacks on this new frontline.
“The hard-fought lessons from Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine leave us under no illusions that future conflicts will be won through forces that are better connected, better equipped and innovating faster than their adversaries.
“We will give our Armed Forces the ability to act at speeds never seen before – connecting ships, aircraft, tanks and operators so they can share vital information instantly and strike further and faster.
“By attracting the best digital talent, and establishing a nerve centre for our cyber capability, we will harness the latest innovations, properly fund Britain’s defences for the modern age and support the government’s Plan for Change.
The SDR recommends that the MOD should deliver the Digital Targeting Web by 2027.
In February, the MOD also announced that Armed Forces recruits will be fast-tracked into specialist roles to tackle the growing cyber threat to the UK via a recruitment scheme.
The Cyber Direct Entry programme offers an accelerated path into military cyber roles with:
- Tailored training focused on essential cyberspace operational skills.
- Placement in operational cyber roles by the end of 2025.
- Starting salaries over £40,000, with potential for up to £25,000 in additional skills pay.
- No requirement to serve in dangerous environments or handle weapons.
- Full military benefits including medical care, sports facilities, adventure training, and professional development.
