Britain invests £1bn in cyber capabilities to enhance military offensive against hostile states led by a new Cyber Command.

The British military is set to invest over £1 billion in a new Cyber and Electronic Command as part of efforts to enhance its cyber capabilities against hostile states, particularly Russia.

Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the need for offensive operations, stating that the military’s online power is crucial in the modern warfare landscape where “the keyboard has become a weapon of war.”

The Cyber Command will oversee this significant investment and aims to establish new standards in defence through better connectivity and innovation. Healey confirmed that the command is designed to improve both defensive and offensive cyber operations.

Offensive hacking

Recent comments reflect a growing willingness to engage in offensive hacking, supplementing the UK’s defensive measures against increasing attacks from foreign actors. The Defence Secretary noted the importance of being well-connected and capable of innovation to prevail against adversaries.

For the last five years, the National Cyber Force has conducted military hacking operations, and this new command will coordinate these offensive capabilities to protect the UK from cyber threats. Hostile nations such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have been identified as significant threats, having launched numerous cyber attacks against the Ministry of Defence in recent years.