The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) will establish a Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to unify defensive cyber operations and coordinate offensive capabilities alongside the National Cyber Force.

However, this move follows recommendations in the upcoming strategic defence review, due on 2 June 2025, which will define the UK's force structure and investment priorities.

The rapid sharing of intelligence across ships, aircraft, tanks and personnel is a core aim of the new formation. Defence Secretary John Healey has stressed that future conflicts 'will be won through forces that are better connected, better equipped and innovating faster than their adversaries.'

However, a major concern is the lack of digital expertise, as Strategic Command chief Gen. Sir Jim Hockenhull warned: 'the first battle of the next war is the battle for talent.' To tackle this shortfall, the MoD has launched an accelerated recruitment pipeline, reducing basic training from ten weeks to just four, followed by three months of specialised cyber instruction.

Insights from Russia's campaign in Ukraine have underlined the importance of electromagnetic capabilities such as jamming drones, intercepting communications and degrading enemy command and control.

Strategic Command chief Sir Jim Hockenhull warned that siloed cyber efforts must be fully integrated into operational planning to seize the advantage in modern warfare.

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