The United Kingdom has allocated over $1.3 billion to ensure British warfighters maintain an advantage in the modern battlefield, British Defense Minister John Healey unveiled during a recent visit to the Ministry of Defence Corsham.
A significant component of the latest defense investments is the Digital Targeting Web, a solution that ensures the interoperability of armed forces weapon systems and improves communication between military units. According to the government’s Strategic Defence Review, the system should be operational by 2027.
Under the investment package, the MoD has also formed a Cyber and Electromagnetic Command. Gen. James Hockenhull, commander of the Strategic Command, will lead the unit, overseeing defensive cyber operations and working closely with the National Cyber Force to coordinate offensive cyber capabilities.
Lessons on Connectivity and Technology
At MoD Corsham, Healey noted that the government is taking lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war, notably how conflicts are won by having better connections and equipment and the ability to innovate faster than adversaries. “We will give our Armed Forces the ability to act at speeds never seen before – connecting ships, aircraft, tanks and operators so they can share vital information instantly and strike further and faster,” he said.
The ministry’s latest move addresses key findings of the SDR, which disclosed threats presented by cyberattacks on the national economy and people’s daily lives. It also aligns with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment to increasing the country’s defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product amid global political tension.