Pinpointing and eliminating enemy targets will take place faster
than ever before, as the Government invests more than £1 billion
to equip the UK Armed Forces with a pioneering battlefield
system.
A new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will also be established
to put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations as part of the
Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The announcements were made by
Defence Secretary, MP on a visit to MOD Corsham,
the UK military's cyber HQ.
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. 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.
This follows the Prime Minister's historic commitment to increase
defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical
importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global
uncertainty.
Delivering this new Digital Targeting Web is central to UK
efforts to learn lessons directly from the front line in Ukraine.
When the Ukrainians achieved a step-change in lethality early in
the war – by being able to find the enemy, target them and attack
quickly and at scale - it allowed them to stop the
encircling Russian advance.
The Ministry of Defence will 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 SDR,
expected imminently, which highlights how daily
cyber-attacks are threatening the foundations of the economy and
daily life.
The SDR sets a path for the next decade to transform defence and
make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It ends the
hollowing out of our Armed Forces and will also drive innovation,
jobs and growth across the country, allowing the UK to lead a
stronger NATO. Enhanced cyber defences will help bolster national
security and support economic stability - foundations of the
Government's Plan for Change.
Defence Secretary 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.
