If Britain were drawn into a major state-on-state conflict this year, it would be vulnerable to a devastating series of modern and multifaceted attacks, according to a significant new government report. The Strategic Defence Review, a comprehensive security assessment, outlines five principal methods by which hostile states might launch an assault on the UK. The report emphasizes the growing risks posed by technological advancements and the evolving nature of modern warfare.
From long-range missile strikes to cyber sabotage, the report paints a chilling picture of what a future war could mean for the UK and its allies.
1. Missile and Drone Strikes on Strategic Infrastructure
One of the most immediate threats identified in the report is the use of long-range ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as armed drones, to target Britain’s military and critical infrastructure. The review states that airfields, military bases, and naval ports in the UK and overseas territories would be among the first to be hit.
Adversaries such as Russia and China have been expanding their long-range missile capabilities, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can reach British soil from thousands of miles away. The report specifically highlights Russia’s recent missile tests and military parades showcasing nuclear-capable launchers, such as the Yars ICBM, as a warning of what a future confrontation might entail.
2. Targeting of Critical National Assets
Beyond military targets, the review warns that vital national infrastructure would also be in the crosshairs. This includes oil rigs in the North Sea, subsea communication and power cables, and civilian merchant vessels involved in trade or energy supply.
The destruction or disabling of such assets would cripple the UK’s economy and energy network. For instance, severing subsea internet cables could plunge the nation into digital darkness, affecting everything from banking systems to defence coordination.
This kind of hybrid warfare — combining traditional military force with attacks on infrastructure — is now considered a central part of modern combat strategy.
3. Cyber Attacks and Digital Sabotage
Perhaps the most insidious method of attack described in the review is cyber warfare. In an age where much of Britain’s national security depends on digital systems, the threat from state-backed hackers and cyber sabotage is very real.
The report outlines potential attacks on satellite networks, air traffic control systems, and even nuclear power plant controls. These could be carried out silently and with plausible deniability, making them hard to trace and even harder to deter.
In a full-scale conflict, cyber strikes could precede or accompany kinetic attacks, creating confusion, delaying responses, and rendering critical systems inoperable just when they are needed most.
4. Economic and Psychological Warfare
Another method of attack would involve undermining the UK’s stability through economic disruption and psychological operations. Hostile states might flood British markets with misinformation, manipulate global supply chains, or use media channels to stoke civil unrest.
According to the Defence Review, enemies may exploit social media platforms to spread panic, disinformation, and division among the public. This form of information warfare aims to weaken national unity and erode public trust in the government and military.
Britain’s open and democratic society, while a strength, also makes it more susceptible to manipulation by foreign intelligence services and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
5. Assaults on Allies and Global Military Presence
Britain’s global military footprint — with bases in the Falklands, Cyprus, and Gibraltar, among others — makes it a target far beyond its own borders. The review anticipates that enemies may first target UK overseas bases, seeking to limit Britain’s ability to project power and respond quickly.
In addition, British forces stationed with NATO or operating in the Indo-Pacific region could be ambushed or neutralized early in a conflict to reduce allied strength. Merchant ships and military logistics vessels traveling through international waters would be at significant risk from missile strikes or naval blockades.
By crippling the UK’s ability to support its allies, adversaries could isolate Britain politically and militarily on the global stage.
Preparing for Modern Warfare
The new Strategic Defence Review, commissioned under the new leadership of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey, serves as a stark reminder that traditional battlefields are evolving.
During a recent visit to a BAE Systems site involved in building the next-generation Type 26 frigates, Starmer and Healey emphasized the need to modernize the UK’s defence capabilities in light of emerging threats. These warships, equipped to handle aerial, surface, and submarine threats, are just one component of a broader effort to prepare for future conflicts.
