Gaining an advantage in the Grey Zone: It’s time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable

In our Multi-Domain Integration (MDI) report, Decision Making in the Battlespace of the Future, 86% of defence leaders agreed that future wars will be fought in an ‘information battlespace’ where digital capability will determine the success of modern military strategies. Almost all respondents (98%) agreed that an evolution of processes will be essential to navigate this new battlespace, while the role of MDI was brought to the fore to ensure every part of digital defence operates seamlessly and collaboratively. By embracing this approach, the UK can equip itself more appropriately for this future cyber landscape, and – in doing so – critically gain more control over the so-called grey zone.

The grey zone represents the conceptual area that exists between traditional notions of conflict and peace: the preparatory endeavours of nation states; the continuous ecosystem building that takes place; and the efforts across people, processes and technologies that give countries ‘power’, influence, information and an advantage before a conflict has even begun.

The grey zone also reflects the fact that while countries might not always be at war in the traditional sense, there isn’t necessarily peace in its place. Rather, there is competition, there is jostling for position, there are innovation races, space races, arms races and strategic manipulation of ideologies. It’s a competition that spans business, the economy and politics while – on an information battleground – testing digital capability.

The relationship between multi-domain integration and the grey zone is where the UK can leverage centuries of advantage, allyship and innovation to form vital digital threads and a flow of data that will keep us ahead of adversaries. However, to do so, we must be comfortable with pushing new boundaries… with being uncomfortable.

Thinking differently in the grey zone

First, it’s important to dissect what the UK has to offer with regards to the grey zone.

A new imagination is needed around defence and security operations, and this doesn’t simply mean embracing commercial global tech or jumping to the most sought-after solutions of the day, designed for quick wins in information warfare. We must pursue a more strategic and evolutionary approach than that, opening pathways that will support our potential to be more agile, to outpace and out-think adversaries, and to conjure more novel strategies and tactics. Information warfare will not be the flash bang of traditional warfare. It will be a fundamental adjustment to how we protect our society in the long-term.

The UK’s unique digital history and characteristics should therefore be paving the way for more proactivity in the grey zone, underpinned by an MDI model where more transparent processes and empowered people are provided with a seamless flow of information from exciting technologies. We have the opportunity to leverage our rich cultural diversity borne of a democratic history and the natural resource that comes from it.

Yes, our adversaries also have economic strength and access to global technologies that can help drive focused, long-term strategic plans. They have the design and manufacturing capability to build their own systems. But where the UK can thrive is in its diversity of thinking; an ability to challenge general strategies and innovate.

We are one of the most inventive nations in the world. In a fast-paced, agile and competitive environment such as the grey zone where ‘warfare’ is data-dependent, we should be able to think a little differently about the technologies generating that data flow and the insights we can draw or deceptions we can sow to provide an advantage.

A perpetual battle

This activity in the grey zone being lent to MDI prominence and competitive advantage should enable quick invention, continuous prototyping, and the exploitation of blended skills, experiences, backgrounds and thought processes.

This speed of movement will not only help to keep the UK ahead of the curve, but reflects the fact that we are now in a constant state of battling adversaries. Here, ‘defence’ is no longer just a term used for times of physical conflict. Defence is a constant tussle for power and advantage means elevating our people, processes and technologies to a point where the insights we have are greater than those of our adversaries.

Of course, this requires an all-of-ecosystem approach – the role of allies in forming digital threads, optimising MDI and generating real-time information can’t be overstated. And if the UK creates a culture where every relevant party across government, business, SMEs, academia and the wider ecosystem is aware of its role and is using transparent data driven by novel technologies to achieve its aims, then this constant ‘battle’ can be mastered.

Comfortable with being uncomfortable 

Ultimately, the advantage that awaits us in the grey zone through MDI requires a mindset of being open to risk.

Currently, UK defence is attempting to move from transformational concepts to transformed operations at scale, which tend to invite a lot of structure, order, bounded ideas and a risk-averse mentality. We – somewhat understandably – struggle to cope with uncertainty. And this leads to a capability matrix based on products and technologies that adversaries are also turning to. Simply put, we can only then be as strong as the technologies allow us to be.

We need to alter this mindset, and make ourselves comfortable with being uncomfortable.

We need to move away from stagnancy and uniformity and capitalise on our diversity of thought for innovation to truly flourish. Rather than mirroring adversaries’ strengths and weaknesses, we can fast-track our own trajectory through failed attempts and learned lessons to come up with something a little bit different. We can be unique, and therefore powerful, in the grey zone.

By exploiting the diversity of national resource that exists in the UK, and building the necessary relationships and mechanisms that allow this resource to thrive, we can be perpetually competitive and ground-breaking. Multi-domain integration will be critical to the success of this new – more uncomfortable – seat within the grey zone, where we forge our own transformation path.