Armed Forces Chief: We Must Focus On Space & Cyber In Today's 'Murky Environment'

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Sir Nick Carter says the UK must "focus its attention" on space and cyber warfare in today's "murky" environment.

The CDS spoke to Forces News at RAF Conningsby before visiting the Royal Air Force's F-35B fighter jets at RAF Marham. 

The head of the Armed Forces said the British military needs to be "more competitive" in space and cyber warfare. He added:

"Many states are contesting us at the moment which is an environment which is just below the threshold of what we would hitherto have called 'conventional war' and that’s a very murky environment in which to contest.

"So much of it is about narrative so much of it is how you use soft power, so much of it is about space, cyber and those sorts of areas are the areas we’ve got to focus our attention on in order to be able genuinely to contest that sort of space." 

In May, Air Marshal Phil Osborn said the UK was in danger of "falling behind" in the face of the growing threat of a cyber attack and information warfare.

When asked about his strategy for his next 3 years in office, General Carter said:

"I think the world we now live in is full of constant change and that means the armed forces have inevitably got to be as adaptable as possible.

"And that’s fundamentally about people and my almost most important task as the head of the armed forces is to make sure our people are properly invested in and that we invest in the right sort of talent and the right sort of skills base because that’s what gives us our edge."

General Carter also rejected suggestions that the delay in publishing the modernising defence review - which was expected last month - is demoralising personnel, saying he does not think "morale is fragile".

However, he could not offer a concrete timescale on when the review will be released, calling it a "fiscal process".

General Carter also admitted that the military were hoping to secure more money from government:

"We’re making a case at the moment and I’m entirely confident that we’ll make a good case.

General Carter also said that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is "very committed to defence, very committed to taking a strategic approach to the future, he is a great traveller he goes round he understands a lot of what’s going on as a consequence and my sense is he’s fallen in love with the armed forces."

General Carter took over the role as Chief of Defence Staff from Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach earlier this year.

He joined the British Army as a member of The Royal Green Jackets in 1978 and throughout his military career has served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo.