Cyber Optics
Spanish Lessons
Royal signallers communicate ideas
with NATO counterparts in Madrid
Brigade signallers have visited Spain to
complete a battlefield study – with the
support of the Spanish army. to achieve military objectives, fake
news, and the growth of internet-
connected devices.
Set against the historical backdrop of
the Spanish Civil War, the Brigade HQ
staff reflected on the contemporary
lessons for corps-level signals in the
urban environment. Spanish Lieutenant Pedro Aguilar said:
“It has been very interesting to work
with the British again. It’s important
for us to share information with other
armies and have a combination of
points of view.
The battle for Madrid in 1936, with
its population of one million, modern
tower-blocks and utilities such as a
telephone system, provides the perfect
opportunity to consider operations in
heavily populated built-up areas.
“It’s been a very interesting visit and
we are looking forward to receiving
many more.”
Speaking in the Spanish capital,
Captain Scott Mapplebeck from 1 Signal
Brigade explained: “We wanted to use
the battlefield study as an opportunity
to look into ‘information manoeuvre’
and get the staff from the brigade
thinking about information operations,
and new concepts such as ‘information
advantage’.”
Presentations at the regiment’s Madrid
base on information warfare generated
discussion on the use of social media
Top of the shots
A Gloucester-based lieutenant has
been recognised as one of the top 100
shots in the British Army following his
success in the 2019 Army Operational
Shooting Competition.
Lieutenant Alex Lim of 252 Signal
Squadron was awarded the coveted
‘Army 100’ badge at the British Army’s
largest shooting tournament held at
Bisley Camp in Surrey.
@comd1SigBde
RSIGNALS
What does this behaviour say to the
adversary? What snippets can be
gleaned from these conversations and
pulled together into an intelligence
picture?
Signals staff have travelled to London
to examine these questions, and
explore how best to protect the
headquarters from this type of cyber
threat.
SAFE AND SOUND
During the first day we worked on
understanding the problem, examining
how cyber agencies collaborate and
the impact out of date software can
have on an operational unit.
We learned that our adversaries target
not only our information systems, but
everything from personal reputation to
vehicle fleets can also be susceptible.
Our defences need to be as diverse.
CULTURE WAR
During the second day we looked at
Exercise ‘Arrcade Fusion’, focusing on
what the adversary could discern and
exploit, and how they would likely go
about gathering intelligence.
BUENOS AMIGOS
The exercise was supported by the
Regimento de Transmisiones 22,
who provide communication and
information systems to the Ejército de
Tierra (Spanish army), including NATO’s
Rapid Deployable Corp in Valencia, the
ARRC’s sister corps in Spain.
What is learned about our HQ when
more than 100 mobile phones are
turned on – and messages and calls
start firing out across the network at
the same time each evening during
our main annual exercise?
It’s important
for us to share
information
with other
armies.
When it comes to security, technical
vulnerabilities and fixes are the
obvious territory for ‘G6’, but the
conversation often returned to the
vulnerabilities introduced by human
and cultural factors.
Security is everyone’s business, and it
doesn’t matter how technically secure
the network is if we do not invest in
our cultural security.
Captain Robin Drysdale
1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade
The Signal Brigade is based at Imjin Barracks where it commands, prepares
and generates forces which are held at high states of readiness, to support
current and future operations all over the world. The brigade units deliver
Command Support (capabilities which assist commanders in the exercise
of command), Communications Information Systems, and Real Life Support
(accommodation, power, medical support, feeding) to formations including:
NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), the Joint Rapid Reaction Force,
the Vanguard Aviation Force, the Air Assault Task Force, the Vanguard
Field Hospital, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
the imjin AUTUMN 2019
13
Trench warfare – Major Jo Dawson
discusses the role of the ‘British Battalion’
at the Battle of Jarama in 1937