The UK’s Defence Shift & The Urgency Of Sovereign Digital Infrastructure

Uploaded on 2025-06-20 in TECHNOLOGY--Resilience, GOVERNMENT-Defence, FREE TO VIEW

As global tensions rise and digital systems underpin modern warfare, the UK’s Strategic Defence Review champions the need to move to warfighting readiness within a ‘NATO First’ defence policy.

At the center of this shift is a growing concern over foreign-governed communications infrastructure, and a push to reclaim digital sovereignty.

Foreign-Governed Systems: A Strategic Liability

Modern military power no longer relies solely on missiles or tanks. It also hinges on who controls the software stack. From satellite links to sovereign and secure communications, and mission-critical logistics platforms, digital infrastructure now defines the agility, security and independence of armed forces. When these systems are governed by foreign powers, they introduce significant operational risks. End-user orgs can't see into proprietary software, and therefore can't be sure of what might be in the black box; meaning that foreign-controlled systems can undermine access during geopolitical disputes, or even introduce backdoors. This can not only create vulnerabilities but also jurisdictional complexities that hamper oversight and legal recourse. We’ve already seen examples of this with the Ukrainian military being blocked from using Maxar Technologies’ satellite imagery.

While it is rare to see key pieces of operational infrastructure “officially” cut off, that foreign powers might retain control over such critical systems is increasingly seen as unacceptable.

The inability to fully command military communications and technology highlights a broader vulnerability and underscores the need for sovereign communications.

Infrastructure, Not Just Interfaces

Governments across Europe are beginning to reimagine what national security looks like in an era where control over data and communications infrastructure is just as critical as tanks or jets. This shift is being driven not just by budgets or procurement cycles, but by a growing recognition that digital dependence on foreign powers is a structural weakness.

Adversaries and even “fairweather” allies can exploit this long before kinetic conflict emerges.

Many EU countries are moving away from external technology providers and toward domestically governed digital systems. This does not require ripping out existing systems overnight. However, it does demand a fundamental rethinking of what digital sovereignty means and where the real vulnerabilities lie. If communications are routed through foreign jurisdictions, or if mission-critical software is updated via vendor controlled cloud
services, governments must ask whether they are truly in command of their own infrastructure.

Resilience today is not just about redundancy. It is about ownership of code, protocols, and platforms.

As cyber warfare becomes the default mode of first (and constant) contact, the next frontier of defense spending will not be the visible tools of war, but the invisible networks that connect, inform, and command them.

The Future Of Sovereign Communications

Sovereign digital infrastructure becomes especially critical in conflict scenarios, where supply chains may break down, alliances may shift, and access to foreign systems may be denied. This is one of the many reasons why open source software is of such significance to governments. The transparency of open source software means that, even if an upstream vendor provides highly polished products and services, there’s always the ability to bring a system based on open source software in-house. If that software is also based on an open standard, there’s also an entire ecosystem of providers that can step in to provide support. This effort is part of a broader global trend in which governments are rethinking their dependence on vendor-controlled technologies.

The UK’s evolving defense strategy reflects a move towards improved sovereignty. It is moving to reduce reliance on US satellites, software, and data analytics platforms, while investing in self hosted systems, domestic cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and mission-critical software.

That means more than data ownership. It means operational autonomy in an increasingly unstable world.

As more countries embrace this model, we are witnessing a rise in nationally controlled infrastructure that ensures governments retain full oversight and command of their military systems, even in the face of geopolitical upheaval.

Conclusion: The Cost Of Control

The Strategic Defense Review 2025 highlights a NATO-first approach, technical innovation and war-fighting readiness; all of which gives the UK a defence dividend as a result of a radical reform of procurement.

By reclaiming control over communications infrastructure, nations can safeguard their operational independence and reduce exposure to foreign influence. As the UK continues to rethink its defense stack, the lesson becomes clear: in the next global crisis, it will not just be weapons or alliances that determine outcomes, but also who controls the comms stack.

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the foundation of national defense lies
in sovereign communication.

Matthew Hodgson, founder of Element

Image: Rawpixel

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