We risk losing hi-tech war with hostile states, warns top general

POTENTIAL adversaries of the UK have broadened the definition of warfare by taking control of key technologies such as 5G, a senior military officer has warned.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, head of Strategic Command, said countries such as China and Russia were developing new plans to weaken the West.

They were among states working to ‘accrue advantage’ in areas including trade, cyber and information warfare.

General Sanders said the countries were also capturing ‘crucial’ control of key technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and space systems. He warned their exploitation of ‘disruptive information age technology’ was ‘leaving us behind’.

He told the virtual Air and Space Power Conference: ‘This approach broadens the very definition of warfare well beyond the boundaries within which our traditional approach can be brought to bear.’

As a result, he said British forces and government agencies must ‘pursue integration’ in the domains of land, sea, air, space and cyber conflict.