Britain intends to conduct its largest domestic defense exercise in decades during 2027, as part of enhancing the country's readiness to face the possibility of war, according to the British network Sky News.

The British Cabinet Office explained that the exercise, named Operation Albiston Shadow, will likely involve ministers along with hundreds of officials from various government agencies and the public sector.

The exercise will test mechanisms for dealing with 'hybrid' attacks that fall below the threshold of conventional war. The government has not disclosed the nature of the threats that will be simulated, but they could include cyberattacks, sabotage, or assassinations.

The exercise is scheduled to last several days and will complement broader training organized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In a major update to the UK's national defense and preparedness strategy, Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the Prime Minister's Office, announced the launch of a new campaign later this year to raise public awareness of the importance of strengthening national resilience in the face of crises.

The government also published an update to the National Risk Register, which monitors various threats that the United Kingdom may face, ranging from full-scale wars and cyberattacks to droughts and pandemics.

For the first time, the risk of interference in the British democratic process has been included in the register, along with six other threats, including the potential use of artificial intelligence to facilitate more sophisticated cyberattacks targeting data infrastructure, water networks, and police systems.

Jones said in a written statement: 'Throughout its history, the United Kingdom has overcome challenges ranging from pandemics and wars to even extreme weather', adding: 'It is right that we continue to assess the risks we may face and prepare for what might happen'.

He continued: 'This year we saw record temperatures across the UK in May, before even higher levels were recorded again in June. Also, artificial intelligence is giving criminals new ways to launch cyberattacks against us, but at the same time it offers significant opportunities for our economy and security'.

He emphasized that 'the government will do everything in its power, and we are highly prepared, but everyone can also contribute to protecting themselves and their loved ones'.

Transition from peacetime to wartime: According to the British network Sky News, the campaign will help Britons take small but important steps to prepare for emergencies and disruptions, whether extreme weather or cyberattacks, that could affect access to electricity, water, or the telephone network.

In this context, Jones said the government is accelerating its plans to strengthen domestic defense, including updating what is known as the 'Government War Book', a comprehensive plan that outlines the mechanism for transitioning the entire state and society from peacetime to wartime. This includes enhancing coordination between military and civilian authorities during crises.

The British minister continued: 'We will test these plans thoroughly through the largest domestic defense exercise in the UK in several decades, scheduled for 2027, to ensure we are fully ready if the worst-case scenario occurs'.

These statements come after the British network Sky News revealed more than two years ago that the United Kingdom did not have a national defense plan, after the old version of the 'Government War Book' was abandoned in the years following the end of the Cold War.