Cyber effects operations (or offensive cyber operations) have become an important aspect of contemporary warfare. Recent conflicts in Iran, Venezuela, Ukraine and elsewhere have demonstrated the utility of cyber operations for adding, deleting or manipulating data on systems or networks to deliver a physical, virtual or cognitive effect.
With the UK and its allies increasingly focused on preparing for potential conflicts, this raises questions about how they should conceptualise, plan for and deliver cyber effects operations in wartime. How does the UK ensure it learns the right lessons from recent conflicts? What are allies and adversaries doing to prepare, and how can the UK ensure its own advantage? Does the UK’s commitment to principles of responsibility limit the effectiveness of its cyber operations in wartime?
With these questions underpinning current debate and policy thinking, we want to encourage new and original voices to join, challenge, and elevate the conversation – and provide decision-makers with effective and actionable concepts and practices.
To address some of these questions, the UK Cyber Effects Network will publish an Edited Collection of Papers on offensive cyber and other cyber effects operations in Spring 2027. Following the publication of the first edited collection in the series, we are looking for contributions that will push the debate further and are especially interested in practical and policy applications that distil what is possible rather than what is desirable. Contributors to the Edited Collection may also be invited to present their papers at a conference hosted by the Cyber Effects Network in 2027.
Call for Abstracts: ‘Optimising Cyber Effects Operations for Conflict’
The UK Cyber Effects Network is pleased to announce an open call for original papers that address how the UK and allies can optimise cyber effects operations for advantage in conflict. We encourage submissions based on new and original research in alignment with the themes outlined below, and welcome a variety of papers including essays, conceptual notes, analytical case studies and inter-disciplinary interventions. We particularly welcome papers that have direct policy relevance for UK thinking and practice of offensive cyber operations, including lessons learned from international experiences.
The Edited Collection will include both traditional research papers of up to 5000 words, and shorter practitioner papers of up to 2500 words. We are especially interested in shorter, policy-oriented, analytical contributions that build on evidence and existing debates to further practice.
We welcome submissions related (but not limited) to the following themes and questions.
Abstracts are due by 23:59 BST on 30 July 2026
1. Concepts and doctrine
- What have we learned (or not learned) about the role of cyber effects operations in wartime from recent conflicts?
- What does ‘advantage’ mean in terms of cyber strategy, doctrine, and operations in contested environments?
- How does cyber campaigning develop as conflict evolves over time?
- How should offensive cyber operations, information warfare and electronic warfare be cohered or separated in military operations during conflict?
- Given resource constraints, what types of cyber effects operations should the UK prioritise in planning? E.g. force protection, kinetic equivalency, sabotage, deception and distraction etc.
- What types of cyber effects operations and capabilities might be required for different conflict scenarios? E.g. limited wars, attritional wars etc.
2. Legal and policy
- Should the UK’s commitment to the principles of precision, accountability and calibration apply to the same extent in wartime as peacetime?
- Can the increased use of volunteers and the private sector to deliver cyber effects operations in conflict be accommodated within existing policy and legal regimes? How might they be constrained by existing regimes?
- How might rules of engagement for cyber effects operations change in the immediate pre-conflict phase?
- To what extent do interpretations of unfriendly acts and prohibited interventions (e.g. ‘prepositioning’) constrain or enable the setting of conditions pre-conflict?
- How does (or should) cyber campaigning develop as conflict evolves over time?
3. Capability and technology
- What are the implications of optimising cyber effects capabilities for contingency use?
- What are the technological, commercial and legal barriers to developing new cyber effects capabilities? How can they be removed? Do the barriers change in conflict?
- How should the UK and allies achieve the right balance between contingency capabilities and build-to-use?
- What level of devolved authority is desirable for the development (and deployment) of new cyber capabilities?
- What is optimal role of industry and civil society in innovating cyber effects capabilities in conflict?
- How can the UK and allies balance opportunities and risks of AI-based capabilities for cyber effects operations in conflict?
Guidelines
- Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words, including the research question and key findings.
- Please include a CV for each author.
- Please specify if the abstract for a research paper or a practitioner paper
- Final abstract submission deadline 23:59, 30 July 2026.
- Authors whose abstracts have been selected will be notified by 10 August 2026.
- Please note that the full Research Paper submissions must be no longer than 5,000 words including references. Practitioner Papers must be no longer than 2,500 words including references.
- Deadline for full paper submission will be 13 October 2026.
- Please note that if AI tools have been used in the drafting of the paper and/or methodology, this should be clearly noted at the time of submission
- Contributors in sensitive roles can contribute anonymously.
Contact
Please go to our contact page should you have any preliminary questions about the suitability of a topic or paper format. We have also put together a FAQ section which you can find at the bottom of this page, please consult it before you decide to contact us.
Abstract and CV Submission Form
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should the abstract be and when is the deadline?
The abstract should be no longer than 250 words, and the final deadline for submission is 23:59 BST on 30 July 2026.
Can I submit more than one abstract?
To allow access to as broad as possible a range of authors, we ask that you limit yourself to one submission only per author/group of authors. If you have more than one idea and are unsure which would be most suited, please get in touch with us via the online form.
What article types will you consider?
We are happy to consider a wide range of formats including essays, research articles, policy briefs and case studies. Please note that, if accepted, your final work will need to be 2,500-5,000 words including references. We will not be able to accept longer pieces.
Can I submit articles based on research looking at non-UK case studies?
Yes. We welcome submissions on a broad range of topics provided that your analysis includes the relevance of the case study for UK policy interests and concerns.
Can I submit an abstract based on work that has already been published?
No, we are looking for new and original ideas. However, if you have already presented the idea at a conference or workshop, and are developing it for publication, we are happy to consider abstracts based on this, provided that have not already been published in written form.
Who can submit an abstract?
We welcome submissions from individuals, including joint authors, working in an academic, research or policy setting as well as the private sector. However, we do not accept abstracts from companies or abstracts putting forward company views rather than independent research.
Do I need to be UK based to submit an abstract?
You do not need to be based in the UK to submit an abstract.
What information do I need to submit?
Please include the full title of your submission (max 15 words); your abstract (max
250 words, including the research question, methodology and key findings); the names and CV of each author.
When will I receive notification of whether my abstract has been accepted?
Authors whose abstracts have been selected will be notified by 10 August 2026. Regrettably, we may not be able to get back to those who have been unsuccessful by the same deadline.
If accepted, what will I need to send with the full submission?
Full paper submissions must be between 2,500-5,000 words including references, with a final submission date of 30 January 2026. Please note that we are unable to make exceptions to this deadline for individual cases.