UK commits over £1bn to cyber and digital defence in strategic security overhaul

A new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will defend MoD networks against cyberattacks

The UK government plans to invest more than £1 billion in cyber and digital capabilities over the coming years.

The announcement came alongside the release of the long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), officially launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a speech at a Glasgow shipyard on Monday.

While much of the SDR spotlight fell on traditional "kinetic" warfare, including the expansion of the Royal Navy and increased spending on weaponry, cyber warfare and digital innovation emerged as key pillars in the government's future defence strategy.

Central to the new cyber initiatives is the development of a Digital Targeting Web (DTW), designed to transform the way British troops locate and eliminate threats on the battlefield.

Defence secretary John Healey, speaking ahead of the SDR's release, said the DTW will allow for unprecedented speed and precision in targeting by enabling real-time data sharing across ships, aircraft, tanks, and infantry units.

"Future conflicts will be won through forces that are better connected, better equipped, and innovating faster than their adversaries," Healey said.

Inspired by Ukraine's tactical success in countering Russian forces with integrated digital warfare, the DTW is expected to leverage AI, advanced software, and multi-domain communications to provide a technological edge to British forces.

A cornerstone of the cyber initiative is the establishment of a Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, to be led by General Sir James Hockenhull and headquartered in Corsham, Wiltshire.

The new command will defend Ministry of Defence (MoD) networks against what officials described as over 90,000 "sub-threshold" cyberattacks in the past two years.

The Command will also play a vital role in the UK's offensive cyber strategy, supporting the National Cyber Force in Samlesbury, Lancashire, in targeting foreign adversaries, terrorists and cybercriminals.

Furthermore, it will consolidate the UK's capacity in electromagnetic warfare, allowing the military to jam enemy communications, disrupt drone operations, and penetrate hostile command systems.

The initiative also includes an ambitious talent pipeline, fast-tracking recruits into cyber operations roles through a Cyber Direct Entry Programme. This route offers starting salaries upwards of £40,000, with top earners receiving up to £65,000 depending on skills.

The first cohort is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

In his address, Starmer called the current threat landscape "more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War," citing the war in Ukraine and Russia's increasing aggression as key motivators for defence reform.

To confront these threats, Starmer reaffirmed his intention to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a target of 3% in the next Parliament.

He pledged better pay for armed forces personnel and investment in a "hybrid" Royal Navy that blends traditional seapower with drone technology and AI-enhanced capabilities.

While the strategic pivot to cyber warfare has been broadly welcomed, industry leaders have urged the government to go further in its integration of cybersecurity into defence planning.

Carla Baker, senior director of UK policy at Palo Alto Networks, applauded the emphasis on digital threats but cautioned against treating cybersecurity as a standalone issue.

She urged the government to adopt a "secure by design" philosophy, consider post-quantum cryptography, and confront the dual-use risks and benefits of AI technologies.