BRITISH TROOPS TO BECOME EXPERTS IN CYBER WARFARE

CYBER warfare will be used every day by British troops under plans being devised by defence chiefs.

They will use hi-tech computer-aided systems both to defend themselves and attack the enemy, said Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Offensive tactics include disrupting command and control systems and sabotaging essential services such as water, as well as spreading propaganda.

Troops will also be able to use cyber operations to spy on their enemies. Mr Williamson revealed: “Some of the steps we are going to be taking are about how we operationalise cyber.

“How do we bring cyber to be something that can be used by every sailor, soldier and airman in the battlefield – because it is going to be as vital.”

He added: “We think we will be making some major moves in order to be able to ensure that the Armed Forces are at that cutting edge of the next cyber battlefield.

“But we will be making it relevant so that it is a weapon that all of our Armed Forces are going to be able to use for work that they’re doing every single day.”

The head of the Armed Forces, General Sir Nick Carter, yesterday told MPs that Ministry of Defence proposals to develop offensive cyber warfare were “a huge leap forward”.

Earlier this year, Sir Nick said Russia had become an expert at “hybrid warfare” – mixing conventional and guerrilla warfare with spying, bribery, propaganda and attacks on computer systems.