UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, announced today a new Army Cyber Regiment, to be designated the ‘13th Signal Regiment’ has been now set up in order to protect frontline operations from any digital attacks – Ben Wallace announcement today.
13th Signal Regiment
13th Signal Regiment, will be UK Armed Forces’ first wholly dedicated Cyber Regiment, was ‘stood up’ on Mon., Jun. 1 & has in effect re-established the Berlin-based 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment.
This was disbanded in 1994 (at the end of the Cold War), & itself replaced the historic pioneering WW2 ‘1st Special Wireless Group.’
Hostile Forces
The action recognises that adversaries & hostile forces are operating in cyberspace currently, creating a new cyber ‘frontline’, adding to the usual arenas of Land, Sea & Air – with no physical borders but a ‘new space’ with its own defence needs.
13th Signal Regiment will function both in the UK & overseas. They will supply so-called ‘digital armour’ for service-people operating overseas, ensuring both commanders & soldiers have secure communications.
Modernisation
Wallace commented ”This is a step-change in the modernisation of the UK Armed Forces for information warfare. Cyber-attacks are every bit as deadly as those faced on the physical battlefield, so we must prepare to defend ourselves from all those who would do us harm & 13th Signal Regiment is a vital addition to that defence.
“The 13th Signal Regiment is a regiment of the British Army within 1st (UK) Signal Brigade, under the command of 6th (UK) Division, responsible for conducting information manoeuvre & unconventional warfare, in support of the whole Armed Forces.
Military Communications
“The specialist unit will provide the basis of the new Army Cyber Information Security Operations Centre, focusing on the protection of Defence’s cyber domain, & it will work with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to provide secure networks for all military communications.
“13th Signal Regiment will also provide specialist technical support for a hub to test & implement next generation information capabilities.”
Based at many ‘key locations’ around an HQ located in Blandford, Dorset, 13th Signal Regiment will have at its heart a key team of 250 specialist servicemen & women who possess relevant ‘high-end’ technical skills.
Cap badges & RN & RAF
A number of existing cyber functions are being drawn together from all across the British Army to set-up the regiment, with staff from 15 different ‘cap badges’ represented in the 1st personnel intake, with additional specialist Royal Navy & RAF involvement.
This regiment will break-down into a number of ‘Cyber Protection Teams’ with also technical staff who will secure the cyber domain for troops on military deployment.
Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith added “13th Signal Regiment is the British Army’s brand-new cyber regiment – matching cutting-edge technology with cyber-fit soldiers to compete & win in the Information Age.
Brigadier John Collyer, Commander 1st (UK) Signal Brigade, observed ”The re-formation of 13th Signal Regiment is an exciting step forward as the Royal Signals, Army & wider Defence rapidly drives up their potency and resilience in the information environment & cyber domain.”
A highly positive development.
https://www.cybernewsgroup.co.uk/virtual-conferences/
