Defence Secretary John Healey has announced a major overhaul of the UK’s military cyber capabilities, confirming the establishment of a new cyber and electromagnetic command to counter what he described as a “continual and intensifying” threat of cyber warfare.
The move, part of the Government’s forthcoming strategic defence review, aims to bolster the UK’s resilience and readiness in the face of modern digital threats, particularly from hostile state actors such as Russia.
Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Defence site at Corsham in Wiltshire, Mr Healey revealed that the new command will be led by General Sir Jim Hockenhull and will play a central role in defending against cyber attacks while also leading the UK’s offensive cyber operations in coordination with the National Cyber Force.
Alongside this structural change, the Government will invest over £1 billion in a “digital targeting web” to be operational by 2027. This ambitious project aims to integrate data and decision-making across the UK’s defence systems, enabling threats to be identified and neutralised far more swiftly.
“The level of cyber warfare that we now face is not only continual but intensifying,” Mr Healey told reporters. “This is no longer just about data breaches or disruption. Cyber has become the leading edge of modern conflict and international tension.”
The digital targeting system is designed to function across multiple domains – land, sea, air, space, and cyber – allowing data gathered from satellites, ships, or remote sensors to be used in real-time for battlefield decision-making. For example, an incoming threat could be detected by a ship’s radar or a space-based sensor, then quickly analysed and neutralised by a drone strike, F-35 fighter jet, or even an offensive cyber operation.
The Ministry of Defence believes this level of integration and responsiveness will be key to maintaining a technological edge over adversaries. The system will effectively allow military assets to communicate and react instantly, reducing the time from threat detection to engagement from hours to minutes.
The cyber and electromagnetic command will also focus on electronic warfare. This includes degrading or jamming enemy communications, interfering with GPS signals used by drones and missiles, and intercepting adversaries’ command and control structures.
According to the MoD, UK defence systems have faced around 90,000 cyber attacks over the past two years, many of them traced back to state-linked actors, particularly from Russia. These attacks range from espionage to attempts to infiltrate and compromise defence infrastructure.
Mr Healey described the new measures as a necessary step to adapt to the evolving nature of warfare. “Defence is no longer confined to land, sea and air. It’s now fought across the digital space as much as the physical. Our response must match that reality,” he said.
He added: “Russia has escalated its use of cyber aggression in recent years, and we must be prepared not only to defend against those threats but to strike back where necessary. This command will give us that capability.”
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General Sir Jim Hockenhull, who previously served as head of Strategic Command, brings extensive experience in military intelligence and cyber operations. His leadership is expected to bring strategic coherence across cyber, space and electromagnetic domains, ensuring the UK can deter and respond to a full spectrum of modern threats.
The announcement has been broadly welcomed by defence experts, who argue that digital warfare is now a critical component of national security. However, some have called for greater transparency and public engagement regarding offensive cyber capabilities, particularly where civilian infrastructure might be impacted.
As global tensions continue to mount, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the UK’s investment in cyber defence signals a clear intent to remain a capable and forward-looking military power in an increasingly digitised world.
