Defence Minister Luke Pollard has called for the UK military to adopt “all-domain warfare” as the standard approach in response to evolving threats that blur the lines between traditional

conflict and hybrid tactics.

Speaking to the Defence Committee on 25 March, Pollard stressed the need for seamless integration across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains—not just in war, but also in the so-called grey zone before conflict begins.

“Offensive and defensive actions now involve every domain by default,” Pollard told MPs. “Effective operations rely on full cooperation across the entire military system.”

When MP Lincoln Jopp asked if hybrid tactics must now operate alongside conventional warfare, Pollard agreed, saying the UK has moved from “multi-domain integration” to an “all-domain” baseline. “It’s not just about linking domains anymore—it’s how we operate by default,” he said.

Paul Wyatt, Director General of Security Policy, also testified, outlining how Defence Intelligence collaborates with the Joint Intelligence Organisation and allied services to analyze threats and coordinate responses. He noted this is especially critical in combating hybrid threats such as Russian disinformation and antisemitic propaganda.

Wyatt emphasized the importance of sharing intelligence with allies: “We talk constantly with partners to strengthen each other’s efforts.”

Pollard pointed out that domestic and international threats are increasingly intertwined. “Stovepiping threats no longer works,” he said, noting the role of platforms like Telegram in spreading extremist content across borders.

On cyber strategy, Air Commodore Matt Bressani added that responses to cyber-attacks don’t always need to be digital. “A cyber-attack might warrant a response in a different domain,” he said, underscoring the UK’s broad range of options.

Pollard also shed light on the role of the UK’s National Cyber Force (NCF), which supports departments like the Ministry of Defence and Home Office. A cross-government “customer group” helps prioritise NCF resources, from supporting military operations to tackling online child exploitation. Photo by Richard Townshend, Wikimedia commons.