National Cyber Force - Revision history

David at 11:50, 8 January 2026

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2026-01-08T11:48:21Z

Organisation

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Organisation

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2026-01-08T10:27:46Z

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Created page with "The '''National Cyber Force''' (NCF) is intended to consolidate offensive cyber activity in the United Kingdom, by enabling an offensive capability to combat security threats,..."

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The '''National Cyber Force''' (NCF) is intended to consolidate offensive cyber activity in the United Kingdom, by enabling an offensive capability to combat security threats, hostile states, terror groups, extremism, hackers, disinformation and election interference.<ref name="theguardian-sabbagh">{{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Kim |date=25 September 2020 |title=British military facing modern-day 'blitz' with 60 cyber attacks a day |newspaper=Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yber-attacks-british-military-national-cyber-force-china-iran-b604896.html |accessdate=2023-01-27 |issn= |via=www.independent.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="independent-sengupta">{{cite web|accessdate=2020-02-27|first1=Kim|last1=Sengupta|title=UK is about to launch force to hit hostile countries with cyberattacks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=10 January 2020|website=The Independent}}</ref>

== Organisation ==
The specialist unit is a joint initiative between the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) and [[Government Communications Headquarters|GCHQ]], one of the British [[intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]].<ref>{{cite news|first1=Richard|last1=Kerbaj|access-date=2020-02-27|title=Female spy to net terrorists as head of 'cyber‑SAS'|newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/female-spy-to-net-terrorists-as-head-of-cyber-sas-jdxv7bv2m|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-02-27|title=Conservatives propose national cyber crime force|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252474489/Conservatives-propose-national-cyber-crime-force|website=ComputerWeekly.com}}</ref>

Around £76m will be invested in the NCF in its first year.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />

It will operate alongside the [[National Cyber Security Centre (United Kingdom)|National Cyber Security Centre]] (NCSC), which primarily concentrates on defensive cyber activities to protect government departments, strategic infrastructure and industry.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />

Its first commander was named in ''[[The Economist]]'' as James Babbage,<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2023-04-04|title=Britain's Cyber warfare chief reveals his identity|newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/04/britains-cyberwarfare-chief-reveals-his-identity}}</ref> who took the role after a long career at GCHQ.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=2023-11-22 |date=2023-06-19 |last=Martin |first=Alexander |work=The Record |url=https://therecord.media/gchq-babbage-to-take-over-uk-national-crime-agency-economic-and-organized-crime-directorate |title=UK's chief hacker to take over National Crime Agency's economic and organized crime directorate }}</ref> In 2023 Babbage was succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes,<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2023-11-22 |title=New Commander of the National Cyber Force appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-commander-of-the-national-cyber-force-appointed |date=2023-10-16}}</ref> formerly director Cyber, Intelligence and Information Integration at the [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom's Strategic Command]].

==History==
Plans for the unit were reported in the media in September 2018.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2020-02-27|title=Britain steps up cyber offensive with new £250m unit to take on Russia and terrorists|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/21/britain-steps-cyber-offensive-new-250m-unit-take-russia-terrorists/|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 September 2018|issn=0307-1235|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Lucy|last1=Fisher|access-date=2020-02-27|title=Britain launches £250m cyber‑force to wage war on terrorists|newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/britain-launches-250m-cyber-force-to-wage-war-on-terrorists-wnq9q506c|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-02-27|title=UK To Develop 2,000-Strong Offensive Cyber Force|url=https://www.forces.net/news/uk-develop-2000-strong-offensive-cyber-force|website=[[British Forces Broadcasting Service]]|date=21 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-02-27|title=Britain to create 2,000-strong cyber force to tackle Russia threat|url=https://news.sky.com/story/britain-to-create-2-000-strong-cyber-force-to-tackle-russia-threat-11503653|website=Sky News}}</ref> It has since been reported to have been delayed because of "distractions caused by uncertainties over Brexit and frequent changes of ministers and secretaries of state in the MoD"<ref name="independent-sengupta"/> and [[wikt:turf war|turf war]]s between the MOD and GCHQ.<ref name="theguardian-sabbagh"/>

An April 2021 report produced by academics from King's College London and the Offensive Cyber Working Group has produced a set of recommendations for the NCF, with an aim to increase public debate on offensive cyber in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Devanny |first1=Joe |last2=Dwyer |first2=Andrew |last3=Ertan |first3=Amy |last4=Stevens |first4=Tim |date=2021 |title=The National Cyber Force that Britain Needs? |url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/the-national-cyber-force-that-britain-needs.pdf |access-date=2021-05-05 |website=Project Report. King's College London, London.}}</ref>

In October 2021 it was announced that the NCF will be based in the [[Samlesbury|village of Samlesbury]],<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2021-10-20 |title=Permanent location of National Cyber Force campus announced |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/permanent-location-of-national-cyber-force-campus-announced |website=GOV.UK|date=4 October 2021 }}</ref> as part of a new 'cyber corridor'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Policy Review Puts Cyber at the centre of the UK's Security |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-policy-review-puts-cyber-at-the-centre-of-the-uks-security |website=GOV.UK |access-date=2021-05-05 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Joint Operations Cell]]
* [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]]
* [[National Cyber Crime Unit]]
* [[UK cyber security community]]
* [[United States Cyber Command]]

==References==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:50, 8 January 2026
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−	The '''National Cyber Force''' (NCF) is intended to consolidate offensive cyber activity in the United Kingdom, by enabling an offensive capability to combat security threats, hostile states, terror groups, extremism, hackers, disinformation and election interference.<ref name="theguardian-sabbagh">{{cite news \|last1=Sengupta \|first1=Kim \|date=25 September 2020 \|title=British military facing modern-day 'blitz' with 60 cyber attacks a day \|newspaper=Independent \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yber-attacks-british-military-national-cyber-force-china-iran-b604896.html \|accessdate=2023-01-27 \|issn= \|via=www.independent.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="independent-sengupta">{{cite web\|accessdate=2020-02-27\|first1=Kim\|last1=Sengupta\|title=UK is about to launch force to hit hostile countries with cyberattacks\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html \|archive-date=18 June 2022 \|url-access=subscription \|url-status=live\|date=10 January 2020\|website=The Independent}}</ref>	+	The '''National Cyber Force''' (NCF) is intended to consolidate offensive cyber activity in the United Kingdom, by enabling an offensive capability to combat security threats, hostile states, terror groups, extremism, hackers, disinformation and election interference.<ref name="theguardian-sabbagh">{{cite news \|last1=Sengupta \|first1=Kim \|date=25 September 2020 \|title=British military facing modern-day 'blitz' with 60 cyber attacks a day \|newspaper=Independent \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yber-attacks-british-military-national-cyber-force-china-iran-b604896.html \|accessdate=2023-01-27 \|issn= \|via=www.independent.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="independent-sengupta">{{cite web\|accessdate=2020-02-27\|first1=Kim\|last1=Sengupta\|title=UK is about to launch force to hit hostile countries with cyberattacks\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cyber-warfare-security-force-iran-crisis-ministry-of-defence-a9278591.html \|archive-date=18 June 2022 \|url-access=subscription \|url-status=live\|date=10 January 2020\|website=The Independent}}</ref> It is part of the UK intelligence community and a constituent part of the [[Cyber & Specialist Operations Command]].

	== Organisation ==		== Organisation ==

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 It will operate alongside the [[National Cyber Security Centre]] (NCSC), which primarily concentrates on defensive cyber activities to protect government departments, strategic infrastructure and industry.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />
-Its first commander was named in ''[[The Economist]]'' as James Babbage,<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2023-04-04|title=Britain's Cyber warfare chief reveals his identity|newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/04/britains-cyberwarfare-chief-reveals-his-identity}}</ref> who took the role after a long career at GCHQ.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=2023-11-22 |date=2023-06-19 |last=Martin |first=Alexander |work=The Record |url=https://therecord.media/gchq-babbage-to-take-over-uk-national-crime-agency-economic-and-organized-crime-directorate |title=UK's chief hacker to take over National Crime Agency's economic and organized crime directorate }}</ref> In 2023 Babbage was succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes,<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2023-11-22 |title=New Commander of the National Cyber Force appointed  |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-commander-of-the-national-cyber-force-appointed |date=2023-10-16}}</ref> formerly director Cyber, Intelligence and Information Integration at the [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom's Strategic Command]].
+Its first commander was named in ''[[The Economist]]'' as [[James Babbage]],<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2023-04-04|title=Britain's Cyber warfare chief reveals his identity|newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/04/britains-cyberwarfare-chief-reveals-his-identity}}</ref> who took the role after a long career at GCHQ.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=2023-11-22 |date=2023-06-19 |last=Martin |first=Alexander |work=The Record |url=https://therecord.media/gchq-babbage-to-take-over-uk-national-crime-agency-economic-and-organized-crime-directorate |title=UK's chief hacker to take over National Crime Agency's economic and organized crime directorate }}</ref> In 2023 Babbage was succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal [[Tim Neal-Hopes]],<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2023-11-22 |title=New Commander of the National Cyber Force appointed  |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-commander-of-the-national-cyber-force-appointed |date=2023-10-16}}</ref> formerly director Cyber, Intelligence and Information Integration at the [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom's Strategic Command]].
 ==History==

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 Around £76m will be invested in the NCF in its first year.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />
-It will operate alongside the [[National Cyber Security Centre (United Kingdom)|National Cyber Security Centre]] (NCSC), which primarily concentrates on defensive cyber activities to protect government departments, strategic infrastructure and industry.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />
+It will operate alongside the [[National Cyber Security Centre]] (NCSC), which primarily concentrates on defensive cyber activities to protect government departments, strategic infrastructure and industry.<ref name="independent-sengupta" />
 Its first commander was named in ''[[The Economist]]'' as James Babbage,<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2023-04-04|title=Britain's Cyber warfare chief reveals his identity|newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/04/britains-cyberwarfare-chief-reveals-his-identity}}</ref> who took the role after a long career at GCHQ.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=2023-11-22 |date=2023-06-19 |last=Martin |first=Alexander |work=The Record |url=https://therecord.media/gchq-babbage-to-take-over-uk-national-crime-agency-economic-and-organized-crime-directorate |title=UK's chief hacker to take over National Crime Agency's economic and organized crime directorate }}</ref> In 2023 Babbage was succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes,<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2023-11-22 |title=New Commander of the National Cyber Force appointed  |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-commander-of-the-national-cyber-force-appointed |date=2023-10-16}}</ref> formerly director Cyber, Intelligence and Information Integration at the [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom's Strategic Command]].

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]]
 * [[National Cyber Crime Unit]]
 ==References==