Driving Integration

Integration is about ensuring Defence can act in a way greater than the sum of its parts, with government, our allies and industry to deliver a desired outcome.

Update on multi-domain integration and multi-domain operations

The UK has updated its position on multi-domain integration to align with NATO terminology and doctrine. References to multi-domain integration (MDI) on this page reflect the language in use at the time of publication. The UK now uses the term multi-domain operations (MDO) in line with NATO allies.

Integration is about ensuring Defence can act in a way greater than the sum of its parts, with government, our allies and industry to deliver a desired outcome. Due to the modern battlespace being more complex than ever before and the nature of the threats we face, no single military force, government department or single nation can tackle these challenges on their own. Integration must become the default and not a reaction.

This requires a mindset change across Defence and wider government. It will not happen by accident, and Strategic Command as Defence’s integrator is responsible for implementing this change.

Strategic Command and Defence were previously using the term Multi-Domain Integration (MDI), however, they are now moving away from this term with the imperative behind it now captured under Driving Integration within UK Defence Doctrine (JDP 0-01) - 6th Edition.

The UK’s Multi Domain Integration (MDI) Joint Concept Note (JCN1/20) has helped to successfully catalyse the opportunities for Integration across UK Defence, with ‘Driving Integration’ now one of Strategic Command’s three core purposes. Therefore, JCN 1/20 has now been archived, and Defence has now adopted NATO’s term of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) when operating alongside NATO allies – in turn signalling the support of Strategic Command and wider Defence in helping NATO achieve its vision of becoming an MDO Enabled Alliance by 2030.