The Ministry of Defence has formally launched a new Military Intelligence Services organisation, bringing together intelligence units from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force into a single structure, as part of reforms set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the department stated.
The new Military Intelligence Services, or MIS, consolidates defence intelligence functions under one organisation for the first time, with the aim of speeding up how information is collected, analysed and shared across the Armed Forces. According to the Ministry of Defence, the change is intended to improve the UK’s ability to anticipate and respond to a growing range of threats, including cyber activity, interference with satellites, disruption to shipping lanes and disinformation campaigns.
Alongside MIS, the MOD has also stood up a new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit, or DCIU, which will bring together counter-intelligence specialists from across defence. The department said hostile intelligence activity directed at the MOD has increased by more than 50% over the past year, prompting a need for a more integrated response.
The new organisations were launched at the Wyton intelligence site in Cambridgeshire, which houses a large intelligence fusion centre handling classified material shared among Five Eyes partners. The Military Intelligence Services will operate under Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence, and will integrate intelligence from land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, according to the department.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the changes were intended to improve how defence intelligence functions in a more contested environment. “As threats increase, we are making defence intelligence smarter,” he said, adding that the reforms would provide “cutting-edge technology, clearer structures and faster data flows” to give earlier warning of potential threats.
General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander of Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, described the creation of MIS and the DCIU as a significant step in strengthening the UK’s ability to anticipate hostile activity. “Intelligence sits at the heart of defence,” he said, noting that intelligence operations run continuously and underpin military activity across all domains.
According to the MOD, the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit will focus on protecting sensitive defence capabilities, including the nuclear deterrent, advanced technology programmes and critical infrastructure, while working more closely with UK intelligence agencies and NATO partners.
The launch follows the publication of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, which highlighted how foreign intelligence services are increasingly targeting defence personnel, supply chains and industrial partners. The government has framed the reforms as part of a wider effort to modernise defence, alongside increased defence spending commitments announced earlier this year.
The endless sound of deckchairs being moved around.
In place of the DIP and some actual real money to invest 11 years after the investment should have started.
Quite right, instead of definite, funded action, announce a reorganisation, review, feasibility study or create a new strategy. Rinse and repeat.
Well in one sense it is a sensible move. In another I can see interservice rivalry becoming an issue. Who runs the head shed?
Not too long ago we had a problem over the Irish Sea, remember? Army Intel, MI5, RUC Special Branch, Det and a few others, all doing their own thing. So when you read this amazing “new” way first think of what a balls up anything to do with UK defence has become. And will remain until Ivan, the Iranians and Chicoms start playing hardball. Then you might see some serious action. Still, our erstwhile government will allow China a large “embassy” in London. Of course that is only so big because of “diplomatic” needs. And spying for China you get a get out of jail card as standard practice 🙂
Mate, CDI, Chief of Defence Intelligence, is a 3 star which rotates between the services. The various components of DI, so things like the CEMAG, JSSO, JFIG, DHO, DIFC, and the other intell centres at Wyton ( there’s more than one ) likewise have command spread amongst the aervices, or are lead by a civil servant from DI.
The elements in Main Building likewise a mix of civvy and military, been purple since time began, and its all “new you know.”
Typical spin from HMG, and as always nobody in the media with the knowledge to call BULLSHIT.
Excellent. Nothing like a good reorganisation to create more jobs for the meetings that will “have ” to take place in order to decide which service is tasked with ordering the tea.
I don’t actually know where to start..
Firstly, as others said, deckchairs being moved!
DI has existed for decades, previously known as the DIS , Defence intelligence Staff.
It’s already tri service, and its already under CSOC, in the real world, Strategic Command, before its own utterly pointless rebranding.
The interesting bit is the 3 services separate intell organisations.
Large chunks of the Intelligence Corps, for example, were not under DI or Strategic Command, but are assigned to the Field Army, namely 1 and 4 MI Battalions. 2 MI Battalion provides more specialist capabilities over the wider Army.
What is the advantage of integrating field formations into a Strategic Command?
For interest, yes, Wyton has the DIFC. It also has other Intelligence Centres performing slightly different functions.
All eggs in the same basket as usual.
Note the spin in HMG announcement, “MIS will integrate intell from air land and sea.”
Wonderful stuff! Theyve been doing that for years, which is WHY places like the DIFC even exist, as not only are the 3 services represented there, but the US military, GCHQ, and other 5 Eyes orgs.
The RN has the MIXC and the FIOC at a location, specifically for maritime Intelligence.
The Army have the LIFC.
The RAF have intell elements at Waddington.
How does combining these help, beyond s large dose of hyperbole? You might as well integrate the entire armed forces and be done with it.
The DCIU is an interesting one that I’ve been looking into since the SDR, but no knowledge, they’ve kept that very close.
Oh! And reading on LBC it says we will form a DI Academy!
Wonderful stuff. In the realms of tri service training provision, which had existed for some time, our varied training orgs at places like Shrivenham, Worthy Down, Cosford, Sultan, Lyneham drift through name changes from School to College to Academy.
The intelligence one is based at Chicksands. Previously called the DISC Defence intelligence Security Centre. It then became the DITG Defence Intelligence Training Group, which included the Defence intelligence School.
Lately it’s being called a College, and now an Academy!
Wonderful stuff!
So many name changes, same old parts. Namely – individual Wings or Companies for things like SIGINT,( replacing the old DSSS ) HUMINT, Army intelligence, RAF Intelligence, a part for the DA network, and do on.
Changing the name on the door for the umpteenth time only seens to fool certain positive no matter what types on here or the wider media.
And another thing, this vaunted “new” Intelligence Academy is due lose it’s home, Chicksands is being sold off. Unsure exactly where it’s going but expansion is underway at Digby, Wyton, and interestingly Garrats Hay, the old DSFC, and thats my guess where the DI Academy ends up.
Look through the spin from HMG and see the truth beneath.