Digital Intelligence

The UK’s national security landscape is changing at unprecedented speed. Technology has become the primary arena in which threats emerge, evolve, and are countered. From AI enabled cyberattacks to autonomous systems and digitally driven criminal networks, the pace of technological change is reshaping the strategic environment. Across government and industry, I am seeing a growing consensus: the UK’s future security will depend on our ability to harness technology as effectively as those who seek to undermine it.

The same way a human develops judgement through repeated exposure to the real-world, autonomous military systems need to be trained through repeated exposure to operational scenarios. This is where high-fidelity synthetic environments become essential.

Modern border security demands smarter data exploitation, advanced risk analytics and future-ready technologies – spanning physical checkpoints, digital systems and multiple domains.

With the UK's Critical National Infrastructure being a prime target for threat actors, Rebecca Phelps explores how cross domain solutions can enable secure data sharing to boost resilience and continuity.

BAE Systems and NEC Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combine expertise for the implementation of active cyber defence (ACD) solutions for the Japanese Government. This MoU demonstrates the intent of both organisations to work together in various sectors beyond the defence domain, building on the momentum of the Japan-UK Strategic Cyber Partnership agreed by the respective Governments in January 2026.

A team of UK based engineers is developing a new way of eliminating hostile drones. The project is being funded and run by the country’s largest defence company, BAE Systems, which is leveraging its long-standing software expertise to create a cost-effective new system in just months, to address the growing threat posed to key civilian and military infrastructure.

A cluster of British designed and built satellites has been successfully launched into low Earth orbit, providing defence, security and civil sectors with UK space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to enhance the nation’s ability to protect against modern threats.