Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed the new National Cyber Force will be set up in the North West in a move set to create jobs in the region.
Outlining the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy to the House of Commons on Tuesday, he told MPs the site conducting offensive cyber operations against terrorists and hostile states will be located in a "cyber corridor" in the North West.
Speculation is growing that the site will be in Manchester, although no official announcement has been made about its exact location - or how many jobs will be created.
Addressing MPs, Mr Johnson said the 海角视频 faces the "realistic possibility" a successful terror attack will be launched on the 海角视频 by 2030, and that it will remain a "major threat" over the next decade.
The most comprehensive defence review since the Cold War also said a "more diverse range of material and political causes, new sources of radicalisation and evolving tactics" will be used by the Government.
Mr Johnson said: “All our international goals rest upon keeping our people safe at home and deterring those who would do us harm, so we will create a counter-terrorism operations centre bringing together our ability to thwart the designs of terrorists while also dealing with the actions of hostile states.”
He added: “I can announce that the National Cyber Force which conducts offensive cyber operations against terrorists, hostile states and criminal gangs will in future be located in a cyber corridor in the North West of England and we will also establish a cross-government situation centre in the Cabinet Office, learning the lessons of the pandemic and improving our use of data to anticipate and respond to future crises.”
The defence sector already employs over 35,000 jobs in the region.
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It's the latest in a string of announcements of Government departments being set up outside of London - with the Budget revealing Leeds will get the 海角视频's first ever infrastructure investment bank, and Darlington will be home to 'Treasury North'.
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Mr Johnson added: “The first outcome of the Integrated Review was the Government’s decision to invest an extra £24bn in defence, allowing the wholesale modernisation of our armed forces and taking forward the renewal of our nuclear deterrent.
"The new money will be focused on mastering the emerging technologies that are transforming warfare, reflecting the premium based on speed and deployment and technical skill.”
Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, Andy Barratt, 海角视频 MD at international cybersecurity consultancy, Coalfire, said: “Today’s announcement further consolidates the North West’s position as a critical hub for the 海角视频’s cyber and defence community.
"The region already sustains more than 35,000 jobs in the sector and the establishment of the new cyber corridor will only increase its influence on national policy.
“We set up our 海角视频 headquarters in Manchester seven years ago because we saw the potential of its digital cluster and the opportunities the city’s international connectivity could bring to a growing multinational tech business.
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"The city region has since become the fastest growing tech hub in Europe, so it’s unsurprising that the government is investing more here, and in the North more widely.
"We now need to see this important but symbolic gesture backed up with sustained investment. Robust support of technology companies and the infrastructure they need will be the new lifeblood of northern cities.
"Tech should be to the North what financial services is to London, and high growth firms in the sector with highly skilled, knowledgeable workers will be crucial to accelerating the government’s levelling up agenda.”