Britain intends to recruit billions of pounds worth of hackers to counter Russia's cyber attacks.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has decided to allocate more than £1 billion to a team of cyber professionals, aimed at countering hostile states, including Russia. According to The Daily Telegraph, this announcement was made by UK Defence Minister John Healey, who emphasized the importance of expanding the armed forces' capabilities in the digital realm.
Healey stated that the keyboard has become a weapon of war, suggesting a growing emphasis on cyber and electromagnetic capabilities. To this end, a new Cybernetic and Electromagnetic Command is to be established, setting new standards and strengthening the UK's defenses and offensive capacities in cyberspace.
When asked if the defence department's capabilities for cyber attacks against countries like Russia and China are being increased, Healey confirmed, "Yes. Cyber Command is part of eliminating duplication, setting new standards, and strengthening capabilities in both defence and offence in cyberspace."
The minister's statements represent the most explicit confirmation yet of the UK's potential for offensive hacking attacks, although specifics about the new command's operations and capabilities remain undisclosed.
As a contextual reference, similar modern defense systems often incorporate key capabilities such as Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Electronic Warfare (EW), offensive cyber operations, integration with multi-domain operations, and real-time data fusion to ensure unified command and coordinated responses.
The British ministry's announcement echoes the trends observed in allied military programs for cyber and electromagnetic warfare, with a focus on interoperability between cyber, electronic warfare, and conventional forces, as well as real-time data integration.
The new Cybernetic and Electromagnetic Command, establishment of which was announced by Defence Minister John Healey, is focusing on expanding the UK's defenses and offensive capacities in cyberspace, including offensive cyber operations, a significant part of its mission. This development aligns with the trends in allied military programs for cyber and electromagnetic warfare, emphasizing the growing importance of technology and cybersecurity in modern defense systems.
