Britain's Next War Won't Be an Away Game: Q&A with Former Head of Defence Intelligence

Summary

The Record published a detailed interview with Jim Hockenhull, former head of UK Defence Intelligence, on the changing nature of modern warfare. Hockenhull argues that the next major conflict will not be an "away game" fought in distant theatres but will involve direct attacks on British and allied infrastructure, including cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure.

Details

The interview provides strategic-level analysis of the cyber dimension of modern warfare and the blurring of military and civilian targets in future conflicts. Hockenhull's assessment reflects a growing consensus among Western intelligence agencies that future conflicts will involve simultaneous conventional, cyber, and information operations targeting civilian infrastructure, economic systems, and democratic processes. This analysis aligns with themes covered in Critical Infrastructure Protection frameworks and the evolving threat landscape facing Five Eyes nations.

Sources

• The Record
• raw/digests/Cyber-Digest-2026-08-05