The UK is committing more than one billion pounds ($1.3 billion) to establish a new offensive cyber unit and develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled targeting network aimed at accelerating digital warfare operations.
The new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will lead the UK’s offensive cyber efforts, with potential roles including disrupting enemy networks, conducting information operations, and supporting wider military campaigns.
It will also bolster the defense of the UK military’s digital infrastructure against cyber threats.
Cyberattacks targeting the UK’s military infrastructure have surged, with the defense ministry reporting over 90,000 incidents in the past two years, primarily attributed to state-linked actors such as Russia and China.
According to the ministry, the new command will place the UK at the forefront of cyber operations, improving its ability to detect, disrupt, and respond to digital threats in an increasingly contested information environment.
‘Kill Web’
Part of the investment will go toward developing a “Digital Targeting Web” designed to identify, track, and neutralize threats in real time — whether by warplane, drone, or cyber operation.
The system will also link weapon platforms more effectively, enabling faster, more informed battlefield decisions.
The so-called “kill web” will integrate AI and advanced software to remain effective and reliable even in high-threat, high-speed environments.
“This pioneering digital capability will give the UK a decisive advantage through greater integration across domains,” the ministry noted.
Learning From Ukraine
The creation of a dedicated offensive cyber unit and sophisticated targeting network reflects lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces achieved a “step-change in lethality” early in the conflict by locating and striking enemy forces quickly and at scale, halting Russia’s initial advance.
“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,” Defence Secretary John Healey said.
