The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) marks a clear turning point in how the UK thinks about defence in the digital age. It moves beyond traditional ideas of warfighting power and places a heavy emphasis on digital being at the forefront of the future of defence. The review describes how “digital” can be an enabler, a domain, and even be used as a weapon in its own right. Traditional ways of fighting, such as ships and aircrafts, are now heavily reliant on digital data to operate effectively. The review reiterates that, if the UK wants to gain an advantage over our adversaries, both platform and data must be married together.
At the core of this shift is a simple but important idea: digital is not just a tool to support operations, but one of the main arenas in which conflict occurs. The creation of the new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, known as CyberEM, shows that the UK is taking this seriously. Cyber-attacks are now commonplace, with notable cases making headlines across the UK. Whilst these threats haven’t directly impacted our Armed Forces, the CyberEM domain presents a broader challenge – one that requires the UK to adapt, innovate, and lead in a space where disruption is swift, and attribution is difficult. UK defence systems faced over 90,000 cyber incidents in the past two years, highlighting a required shift to a digital focus and building the capabilities to meet this threat. The British Armed Forces need to be world-leaders in areas where threats are constant, unclear and hard to attribute. The creation of the CyberEM Command is the SDR’s answer to this.
Alongside CyberEM Command, the government has committed £1 billion to develop the Digital Targeting Web – an integrated, AI-enabled system that connects sensors, platforms and decision-makers into a single network. There is a need to reduce the time it takes to go from detecting a threat to taking action to prevent a “crisis becoming a war”, as per the SDR. Whether a threat is spotted by a drone, a ship or a satellite, the system will enable a faster, more coordinated response. AI systems reduce the speed and threat of attacks by rapidly detecting anomalies, predicting potential threats, and automating defensive responses faster than human operators can react. This investment will pave the way for future utilisation of intelligent systems across the whole of the defence ecosystem and allow the UK start realising the benefits of AI.
The development and use of autonomous and unmanned systems (demonstrated in the Russo-Ukraine war through Operation Spider Web, an unprecedented, largescale drone attack) will improve the reach and flexibility of the Armed Forces and reduce risk to personnel in contested environments. The creation of a new Drone Centre is the first step in the UK’s journey to develop and enhance its drone capabilities. Unmanned systems represent value that cannot traditionally be demonstrated by legacy equipment, and hence the SDR emphasises the need for investment in this technology, to further drive the UK’s digital ambition.
These developments reflect the broader shift in thinking outlined in the SDR. In 2021, the Integrated Operating Concept emphasised that modern defence is not defined by platforms alone, but by the ability to integrate people, technology and information across domains. The SDR highlights the need for systems that are agile, data-driven and capable of adapting to fast-changing threats. Achieving this will require sustained collaboration with industry, academia and international partners to design, test and deliver digital capabilities that work in real-world operational settings. Failure to adapt and keep up with adversaries would lead to a direct threat to national security, which simply cannot be an option.
The SDR presents a focused digital strategy, but there is still a long way to go. By harnessing the power of our digital assets, UK forces will begin to realise the speed, coherence and situational awareness needed to out-think and out-manoeuvre adversaries. In an era of constant competition, the SDR sets out why digital advantage will be central to military effectiveness and national security.
