Corporate report

Cyber and Information Systems

Updated 29 November 2023

The Cyber and Information Systems (CIS) division delivers evidence-based resilient sensing, information and effector systems for the defence and security of the UK. The threats that the UK faces every day are many and varied. We advance the tools, techniques and tradecrafts required to establish world-class capabilities to detect and counter these threats through research, development and technology assessment.

CIS collaborates with our partners to offer the skills, knowledge, expertise and facilities needed to support defence in:

• cyber
• command, control, communications, computers (C4)
• intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
• space

Our vision is to deliver transformational information superiority.

Much of our work is sensitive so, in order to keep the nation and the people who work for us safe, this is just a snapshot of the varied and exciting work we do.

We’re recruiting - find out about career opportunities in CIS.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Systems

The work we do in AI and Data Systems enables defence to turn data into information advantage and accelerates the responsible and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence across defence. Dstl provides a world-class capability applying artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science to defence and security challenges.

Our expertise includes:

• AI and machine learning
• data science research and development
• data and knowledge engineering
• systems engineering (applied to data, information and intelligence challenges)
• data management and interoperability
• digital signal processing
• data and geospatial architectures

Our work with other nations provides our scientists with exciting opportunities to collaborate with our partners in countries such as the US and we have recently established a hub in Newcastle helping us harness talent from across the UK.

Dstl Newcastle

Command, Control, Communications, Computer (C4) Systems

Effective and resilient communications and networks are essential to all military operations. The armed forces must be able to operate in all environments from sub-sea to space and face some of the most difficult communication challenges imaginable.

One of the huge challenges for defence is how we integrate and communicate information from strategic and operational levels down to the tactical applications in warfare across all domains: land, sea, air, space and cyber. We do this through Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Systems.

The C4 Group conducts research to deliver the science and technology advances that enable complex information services like AI to reach into these environments and to overcome threats to our communications.

With employees ranging from physicists to engineers working in electronics, computer science, systems, information and data sciences, we identify ways to connect all military commands and equipment (present and future) and exploit the electromagnetic spectrum. This includes building in resilience against threats posed by highly technical adversaries. It will also involve collaboration with allies, organisations and coalition partners, such as NATO.

Figure: The Electromagnetic Environment from AJP 3.6 C (NATO EW Doctrine) NATO UNCLASSIFIED; Reproduced with permission from MoD Head of Delegation for NATO EW within the NATO EW.

Adversaries will seek to find ways to disrupt communications to deny our forces access to the information that is fundamental to our success. Threats like jamming, interception and cyber-attack are under constant development by hostile states so it is essential that we continually improve our networks to maintain our advantage. Our staff work on developing both next generation and generation-after-next communications and networks systems.

Some of our current work includes:

• diverse communications options including optical, acoustic and radio
• new ways for communications devices to operate to overcome threats like jamming and detection
• networks that can operate in the fastest moving and most complex environments
• concepts for communications exploiting the latest quantum technologies
• agile and adaptable network and system architectures to enable access to ever- developing information services and applications

We use our expertise to deliver communications options for everything from submarines to fast jets and from complex headquarters to autonomous swarms. We achieve this through designing experiments and conducting trials to prove concepts. And because we’re at the extreme cutting edge of technology, we work closely with leading experts from academia, commercial companies and international partners.

Cyber

The military and civilian worlds are entirely dependent on electronic systems and data. These computers are in everything from our everyday phones, tablets and laptops through to our vehicles, power distribution, communications systems, and other ‘invisible’ systems. Dstl’s cyber capability plays a vital role in protecting UK defence and security from the cyber threats to our systems.

It’s not the stuff that we can say about our work that makes it exciting… it’s the stuff we can’t!

Our Cyber group brings diverse, creative minds together to provide unique ideas to solve classified challenges. We work across software, electronics, radio frequency (RF), hardware, security and safety critical systems to:

• innovate and develop novel tools, techniques and capabilities
• demonstrate the art of the possible whilst keeping ahead of technology advances through original research
• analyse and understand the vulnerabilities in cyber technologies - how they work and how to break them (understanding how they can be broken is critical to building the right protection for them)
• develop proofs of concept that can become assured solutions
• ensure the continued evolution of trustworthy technologies and solutions
• provide through-life security, safety and cyber resilience of software-intensive products, systems and services
• advise, create and support UK MOD on cyber policy, certification, regulations and guidance

We use our cyber expertise in everything from security, safety and autonomous systems through to hardware, antennas and large complex software to deliver solutions that bring brand new, cutting-edge capabilities to allow the UK to establish strategic advantage.

Electromagnetic Activity and Electronic Warfare

The Electronic Warfare Technology and Enterprise (EWTE) Group is comprised of RF, electrical, electronic, software, system and mechanical engineers, physicists, mathematicians and internationally-recognised experts in electronic warfare (EW).

We support the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to deliver substantial EW equipment procurement programmes for the armed forces by:

• providing independent review and assurance
• exploiting the depth of experience
• advising MOD on how to integrate the programmes

We work on classified operational capability and provide rapid advice on how to overcome challenges, with our expertise in science and technology in areas such as communications and radars, RF systems, signal processing and machine learning, systems engineering and modelling and simulation.

We further specialist research by sponsoring and mentoring PhDs, in areas including Information Theory, and we have also launched an Electromagnetic Research Hub to provide highly classified analysis and advice into defence operations.

Intelligence Innovation

The Intelligence Innovation group develops and delivers transformations in defence analytical capability to UK intelligence through the application of data science, sensor exploitation and collaboration. As an impartial, in-government capability, we:

• coordinate UK and international relationships
• provide advice to defence and wider government
• uses applied data science
• conducts sensing research

Our expertise includes innovative and forward-thinking individuals from data professionals in science, engineering and fusion to technical professionals within digital signal processing, open-source information exploitation, systems engineering and consultancy.

Joint Analysis and Decision Support

Operational research (OR) is a scientific approach to the solution of problems in the management of complex systems that enables decision makers to make better decisions.

The Joint Analysis and Decision Support Group conduct operational research which allows the MOD to make informed decisions on capability in the areas of:

• cyber
• command and control
• networks and communications
• space
• logistics
• medical
• directed energy weapons
• surveillance and reconnaissance
• intelligence

We do this through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods are subjective techniques which allow us to explore new concepts and ideas and quantitative methods are objective techniques which allow us to numerically measure difference.

Project Leadership

To enable the divisions to execute their projects, ensuring value for money, CIS is home to around 150 project professionals. These include project and programme managers who work closely with our scientists and often experience first-hand the exciting science we deliver to our customers. They do not necessarily have a background in science or technology, but focus on applying international, government and MOD best practice in portfolio, programme and project (P3) management. This group is essential in providing exploitable science and technology to realise tangible defence benefits.

Sensing

The ability to find your enemy on land, sea, air or space remains key to military success. Dstl’s Sensing Group is the core of UK MOD’s research and innovation hub dedicated to delivering world leading military sensing technology.

Our scientists work hand in glove with frontline forces to understand the military challenges of the modern battlefield and develop the sensors needed for tomorrow’s challenges and beyond.

With state of the art laboratory, experimental and field trials capabilities, we shape the military sensing landscape of the future to ensure the UK can always maintain a technology advantage over its adversaries.

Covering a plethora of sensing modalities, we:

• lead and deliver the MOD Chief Scientific Advisor’s radar, electro-optic, quantum sensing and position, navigation and timing (PNT) science and technology research
• deliver underpinning, cross cutting and novel sensing research at low to mid Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
• provide air, land, maritime and space sensor system modelling and advice to the army, navy, RAF and space commands
• support current operations, defence Intelligence threat assessments and intelligence community operations

Our Sensing Group includes professionals in quantum technologies, electro-optic sciences, radio frequency engineering, alternative navigation, precision timing, data processing and sensor system modelling.

Space

The Space Group is the centre for science and technology support to UK defence and security in space. We work to deliver the UK’s National and Defence Space Strategies, developing the UK’s ability to become a meaningful influencer in space.

Our mission is to provide domain advice and use science and technology to deliver freedom of action in and through space. This is a huge remit covering space domain awareness experiments, novel satellite technology; and optical satellite communications. We collaborate with professionals in academia, industry and internationally to develop world-class scientific capability and to design and develop mission demonstrators for Space Command.

Our employees work at all levels within the space architecture. This includes:

• commissioning, operating and testing our new radio frequency and optical satellite ground stations
• defining the requirements and specification for future satellite missions
• working on the data to assess the military utility for our end users
• leading innovative experiments for understanding space weather
• leading experiments on the behaviour of satellites on-orbit

The Space Group also provides the evidence base for decisions around the shape and scale of the defence approach to space in the future.

Our professionals in the space team include space systems engineers, payload engineers, synthetic aperture radar scientists, space domain awareness scientists and a wide range of other specialists to deliver the MOD’s growing need for space capability.

Careers in CIS

The CIS division at Dstl is always looking for top talent who can bring innovation, passion and skills to the team.

We need people with diverse and creative minds who can bring their individual perspectives to our classified challenges.

Working within CIS provides a fantastic opportunity to work on cutting edge technologies, interesting projects (some we cannot disclose) and to work with like-minded professionals internally and across academia, industry and internationally.

The benefits of working in CIS include:

• the chance to work on projects that make a real difference to protecting the nation, alongside some of the best minds in the world
• working on a variety of unique projects including cutting edge technologies, that will see real world application and even become generation-after-next operational equipment
• opportunities to travel and work with international partners
• opportunities to work on and conduct trials, often directly alongside members of the armed forces
• the ability to learn and develop your skills and knowledge, including on-the-job training, specialist courses, support to gain qualifications up to PHD level, and chartership and fellowship of relevant professional bodies
• flexible working
• excellent pension scheme starting at 26%

Find out more about the benefits of working for Dstl.

Apply now

All Dstl job opportunities

At CIS and Dstl we actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. Meet AJ, software engineer with a neurodiverse background who works on our exciting projects.

Celebrating Neurodiversity at Dstl: AJ’s Story