Ex CYBER OWL 24

– DEFCON:A Battlefield Study

by Lieutenant Luke Ranner

Ex CYBER OWL is a yearly Royal Signals led battlefield study to the capstone cyber conference, DEFCON. The study aims to provide participants with access to cutting edge technology, industry and case studies, presented by world leaders in their specific fields. Attendees, who were tasked with a number of objectives that can be loosely broken down into, identifying technological advancement, engagement with industry partners and understanding threats. Technical essays were then produced, identifying areas of interest and applying them to military operations and thinking, off the back of their experiences. The outputs produced focused on several areas, exploring developing technologies such as quantum computing, through to technology which has been deployed in conflict over recent years, such as AI targeting. Other areas of interest included studies into nation state actors and physical security challenges.

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the discussion around increasing attendance at major “hacking” events like DEFCON. To the same level of success (based on people participating) that Royal Signals personal currently achieve with Unit led Battlefield Studies.  AGAI 23 (Battlefield Studies) states that “A Battlefield Study is a training method based on participation, using actual ground of historical note, from which outcomes (i.e. lessons) are derived.”

The outputs provided by DEFCON show the value of carrying out Battlefield studies in less conventional environments than are usually used within the Defence community. While not ground of historical note, lessons once published, do provide outcomes relevant for the Royal Signals. For example, in Jul 23 a group of cybersecurity researchers uncovered a weakness in encrypted radios used by police, military, and critical infrastructure entities around the world. A comprehensive brief on this was delivered at DEFCON in Aug 23, the lessons from which would provide outcomes relevant to the Royal Signals and its employment of the Airwave radio network. This article and associated essays aim to demonstrate there is valuable usage for this information in the MOD, and especially to the Royal Corps of Signals in continuing to engage with and keep abreast of industry and international partners in the realms of cyber advancements. To not do this, will undoubtedly put the MOD and the Corps at a technological disadvantage.

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