The UK army is considering a major AI investment. This could be a huge £1 billion ($1,350,000,000) splurge. The move is described as creating an “army of hackers.” Defence Secretary John Healey announced these plans. He intends to set up a new cyber command. This is to counter “continual and intensifying” cyber warfare. The investment aims to protect Britain from online threats. It will also give the Government offensive options. Labour plans a further £1 billion for a “digital targeting web.” This new system is set to launch by 2027. It will enable faster battlefield decisions. Weapon system connectivity will also be enhanced by it.
The Ministry of Defence stated the investment’s benefits. It can help identify threats using advanced sensors. These sensors could be on ships or in space. Identified threats can then be disabled by drones. F-35 aircraft could also be used for this purpose. Healey promised to give the Armed Forces more online power. He warned that “the keyboard has become a weapon of war.” General Sir Jim Hockenhull will lead the new command. He will coordinate attacks with the national cyber force. The UK is responding to numerous past attacks. 90,000 state-linked cyber attacks targeted UK defence.
The new command will primarily focus on electromagnetic warfare. This specific type of warfare can jam signals. Drone or missile guidance systems can be disrupted. Enemy communications can also be intercepted effectively. The National Cyber Force already has relevant experience. It has conducted hacking operations for the military. This has occurred over the past five years. The new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command is significant. With it, the UK can better fight enemies online. It can also lead the way in defensive operations. This bolsters Britain’s overall cyber warfare capabilities significantly.
Further details of Britain’s cyber capabilities remain classified. They are not disclosed to the general public. However, actions by other countries illustrate cyber warfare. These actions range from spying on officials. They also include installing malicious software. Such software can cause critical machinery to malfunction. Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran are active. These nations are all thought to have hackers. Their hackers work in espionage operations. They aim to access sensitive online information. They also conduct various disruptive cyber attacks.
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