UK set to launch cyber force in spring

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - The British Ministry of Defence and the Government Communications Headquarters, the country’s intelligence agency, will jointly launch in spring a cyber force of hackers to target hostile states and terrorist groups, according to local media.

According to The Independent, an estimated £73 million ($94 million) is due to be invested in the force in its first year, and that it will be the first British organization dedicated to purely offensive action against foreign enemies.

Previously, local media reported the overall cost of the new force will be £250 million.

The National Cyber Force has been under development for two years and currently has around 500 officers working for it. According to The Times, the number will quadruple to 2,000 people.

The U.K., like the U.S. and EU, has increasingly talked about becoming a cyber power to meet the challenges posed by Russia, China, and Iran.