Next-generation warfare may not sound as exciting as next-generation gaming consoles, but they share a key trait: both are increasingly driven by technology.
Historically, nations have prepared for conventional, manned conflicts—guns, tanks, ships, jets and helicopters—the destructive tools that have claimed innumerable lives. But today a different and growing threat often sits in our homes: the personal computer.
Many people view the “Internet of Things” as a utopian promise of fully connected cities and automated daily life. Although that vision remains some years away, more devices are linked to the internet every day. Each connection expands the attack surface for cybercriminals and hostile actors, amplifying the potential impact of malicious hacking.
While the UK has reduced some traditional military spending during what has thankfully been an extended period of peace, it is adapting to emerging threats. To that end, the government has announced plans to form a new Joint Cyber Reserve Unit to strengthen national cyber capabilities.
Speaking at a Conservative Party conference, Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond said, “Last year, our cyber defences blocked around 400,000 advanced, malicious cyber threats to the government secure intranet alone.”
“The threat is real,” he added.
The new unit will not only focus on defence but also develop offensive cyber capabilities. Hammond told the Mail on Sunday that targeted “cyber strikes” could potentially disrupt an adversary’s communications, nuclear and chemical weapons systems, aircraft, ships and other critical machinery.
He pointed out that military thinking has evolved: “People think of military as land, sea and air. We long ago recognised a fourth domain—space. Now there’s a fifth—cyber.”
Since 2010, the UK has elevated cybersecurity to a top defence priority. Government networks face around 70 sophisticated attacks each month, according to intelligence agency assessments, and roughly 15 percent of these target the defence sector directly.
Earlier reporting suggested that a significant portion of global attack traffic has originated from China, while the United States is among the largest buyers of malware—highlighting how cyber activity spans both state and commercial actors. Strengthening Britain’s ability to defend against and respond to cyber threats is therefore increasingly vital.
Hammond emphasized deterrence through capability: “You deter people by having an offensive capability. We will build in Britain a cyber strike capability so we can strike back in cyberspace against enemies who attack us, putting cyber alongside land, sea, air and space as a mainstream military activity.”
Recruitment for the Joint Cyber Reserve Unit is set to begin next month. The drive will target regular personnel leaving the armed forces, current and former reservists with relevant experience, and civilians who possess the technical skills and knowledge needed for cyber operations.
As the digital domain becomes an integral part of national security, questions remain about how best to balance defensive measures, offensive options and civil liberties. The creation of a Joint Cyber Reserve Unit signals the UK’s commitment to treating cyber as a core military domain and preparing personnel capable of operating within it.
What do you think about the UK’s new Joint Cyber Reserve Unit? Is it a necessary step for future defence?