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British military cyber teams deployed overseas to disrupt hackers before attacks
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
The new detail is that British military cyber teams are being sent abroad to find and disrupt threats before they can damage UK systems. The deployments mark a shift from defending against cyberattacks from within Britain, as defence chiefs warn that AI is helping adversaries exploit weaknesses at unprecedented speed.
Major General Mike Fayers, who leads the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, said vulnerabilities that once took days to address may now need a response within tens of minutes. Missions across parts of Asia and Europe can target state actors or criminals and may require Defence Secretary Wes Streeting’s approval. The Ministry of Defence said it faced 90,000 attacks from state-linked sources in the two years before last May; the article also points to recent attacks on European infrastructure and Streeting’s advice to keep three days of essential supplies.
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In short
- UK cyber teams are being deployed abroad to disrupt threats.
- AI has cut the time available to fix vulnerabilities to minutes.
- The MoD recorded 90,000 state-linked attacks over two years.
How this story developed
- 55 minutes ago Further details show the “hunt forces” were announced in last year’s Strategic Defence Review and could expand, with some missions requiring approval from Defence Secretary Wes Streeting.
- 1 hour ago British military cyber teams are being deployed abroad to detect and disrupt threats before they can harm UK systems, as defence chiefs warn that AI is accelerating attacks.
Full account
British military cyber specialists are operating overseas in an effort to find and disrupt hackers before they can attack UK military networks. The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, led by Major General Mike Fayers, includes personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Fayers said teams were already deployed, describing the approach as defending the UK beyond its own networks by searching for adversaries where they prepare for attacks.
The missions involve personnel travelling to locations where host governments have agreed to their presence. There, they can investigate and target cyber activity linked to state organisations or criminal groups. Fayers did not identify specific deployments or operations. One possible scenario, reported by one outlet, would be action against Russian hackers using servers in a European country; this was presented as an example, not a confirmed mission. The operations are described as sensitive and may require the Defence Secretary’s approval.
Fayers said artificial intelligence was helping adversaries exploit weaknesses at a faster pace. He contrasted an earlier response window of several days with the current need to act within tens of minutes. He also characterised the threat as a wider national concern, rather than one limited to the Ministry of Defence. The reports link the force’s development to the government’s Strategic Defence Review and note that the Ministry of Defence previously reported 90,000 cyberattacks from state-linked sources over a two-year period.
The deployments have been reported amid cyber incidents affecting European organisations. These include an attack on France’s national blood bank that raised temperatures in storage rooms, as well as attacks on food retailers’ refrigeration systems. One report says some UK businesses were affected, including a London produce wholesaler whose staff disconnected chillers from the internet. The accounts also refer to warnings about the possibility of more serious attacks and calls for households to prepare for emergencies.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Both reports describe overseas deployments, host-nation consent, sensitive operations and the threat posed by AI. The second gives more operational detail, including possible deployment by land, sea or air, the London wholesaler incident and the example of hackers using servers in Europe; it also says Fayers did not disclose particular missions. The first focuses more on the Defence Review, the MoD’s reported attack total and broader UK preparedness, including advice to keep three days of essentials. Their accounts of freezer attacks differ in the reported temperatures: the first says up to 80C, while the second says more than 55C. The provided material does not include source URLs.
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The case for
Sending cyber teams overseas to disrupt threats before they reach British systems could reduce the risk of serious damage, especially as AI allows vulnerabilities to be exploited faster than conventional responses can keep up. Supporters may see acting abroad, with ministerial approval where required, as a proportionate way to protect public services and infrastructure from state-linked and criminal threats.
The case against
Pre-emptive cyber operations abroad risk escalating disputes or harming systems and people beyond the intended target, particularly when attribution is uncertain and operations are difficult to scrutinise. Critics may argue that the government should set clear limits and oversight, and prioritise strengthening domestic defences and resilience before expanding the military’s role overseas.
Explained simply
Cyberattacks can target government, businesses and essential services, including systems used by the military. Some are linked to foreign governments, while others are carried out by criminal groups. Finding a weakness before it is exploited can help prevent disruption or damage.
The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force is the part of the UK military responsible for cyber operations and related work. Its teams may operate overseas, where they can investigate threats linked to state actors or criminals. Some missions require approval from the Defence Secretary.
Artificial intelligence can help attackers find and exploit weaknesses more quickly, increasing the pressure on those defending networks. Cyber threats matter because attacks on infrastructure and public services can affect daily life as well as national security.
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Originally published by GB News as “UK defence chiefs deploy ‘hunt forces’ abroad to block enemy hackers crippling Britain’s military systems”.