Cyber and Information Domain Service explained

Unit Name:	Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIDS)
Native Name:	German: Cyber- und Informationsraum (CIR)
Type:	Signals and Electronic Warfare
Dates:	1 April 2017 – present
Size:	15,200 (2023)^[1]
Garrison:	Bonn
Commander1:	Vice admiral Thomas Daum
Commander1 Label:	Inspector of CIR
Commander2:	Major General Jürgen Setzer
Commander2 Label:	Vice Inspector of CIR
March:	Cyber-March^[2]

The Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIDS) (German: Cyber- und Informationsraum, pronounced as /de/; CIR) is the youngest branch of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr. The decision to form an organizational unit was presented by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on 26 April 2016, becoming operational on 1 April 2017. It is headquartered in Bonn.^[3]

History

In November 2015, the German Ministry of Defense activated a Staff Group within the ministry tasked with developing plans for a reorganization of the Cyber, IT, military intelligence, geo-information, and operative communication units of the Bundeswehr.

On 26 April 2016, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen presented the plans for the new military branch to the public and on 5 October 2016 the command's staff became operational as a department within the ministry of defense. On 1 April 2017, the Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIDS) was activated as a "military organizational unit" (Organisationsbereich), indicating its status below a full service branch, such as the air force. The CIDS Headquarters took command of all existing electronic warfare, signals, IT, military intelligence, geoinformation, and psychological operations units. ^[4]

As part of a wider restructuring of higher command in the Bundeswehr in 2024, it was decided to upgrade it from a military organizational unit to the fourth full military service branch, alongside Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force) and Deutsche Marine (navy).^[5]

Organisation

The CIDS is commanded by the Chief of the Cyber and Information Domain Service (German: Inspekteur des Cyber- und Informationsraum InspCIR), a three-star general position, based in Bonn.^[6] As of April 2023, it is structured as follows:

• Cyber and Information Domain Service Command (German: Kommando Cyber- und Informationsraum KdoCIR), in Bonn
  • Reconnaissance and Effects Command (German: Kommando Aufklärung und Wirkung KdoAufkl/Wirk), in Gelsdorf
    • 911th Electronic Warfare Battalion
    • 912th Electronic Warfare Battalion, mans the Oste-class SIGINT/ELINT and reconnaissance ships
    • 931st Electronic Warfare Battalion
    • 932nd Electronic Warfare Battalion, provides airborne troops for operations in enemy territory
    • Cyber-Operations Centre (German: Zentrum Cyber-Operationen ZSO)
    • Central Imaging Reconnaissance (German: Zentrale Abbildende Aufklärung ZAbbAufkl), operating the SAR-Lupe satellites
    • Central Bundeswehr Investigation Authority for Technical Reconnaissance (German: Zentrale Untersuchungsstelle der Bundeswehr für Technische Aufklärung ZU-StelleBwTAufkl)
    • Signals Reconnaisance Centre North (German: Fernmeldeaufklärungszentrale Nord FmAufklZentr NORD)
    • Signals Reconnaisance Centre South (German: Fernmeldeaufklärungszentrale Süd FmAufklZentr SÜD)
  • Bundeswehr Geoinformation Centre (German: Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr), in Euskirchen
  • Information Technology Services Command (German: Kommando Informationstechnik-Services der Bundeswehr KdoIT-SBw), in Bonn
    • 281st Information Technology Battalion
    • 282nd Information Technology Battalion
    • 292nd Information Technology Battalion
    • 293rd Information Technology Battalion
    • 381st Information Technology Battalion
    • 383rd Information Technology Battalion
  • Bundeswehr Cyber-Security Centre (German: Zentrum für Cyber-Sicherheit der Bundeswehr ZCSBw)
  • Bundeswehr Software Digitalisation Centre (German: Zentrum Digitalisierung der Bundeswehr und Fähigkeitsentwicklung Cyber- und Informationsraum ZDigBw)
  • Bundeswehr Operational Communications Centre (German: Zentrum Operative Kommunikation der Bundeswehr ZOpKomBw)
  • Training Centre CIDS (German: Ausbildungszentrum CIR AusbZ CIR)

See also

• List of cyber warfare forces

External links

• Cyber security, the German way
• Dossier on cyber security in the Bundeswehr
• White Paper on German security policy and the future of the Bundeswehr
• The Faculty of Joint Operations

Notes and References

1. Web site: Aktuelle Personalzahlen der Bundeswehr [Current personnel numbers of the Federal Defence]]. 1 April 2022.
2. Web site: Der Cyber-Marsch. German. 2017-04-11. 2017-07-02.
3. Web site: Kommando Cyber- und Informationsraum. 2021-12-28. bundeswehr.de. de.
4. http://www.marshallcenter.org/mcpublicweb/de/nav-main-news-de/62-cat-english-en/cat-gcmc-pao-en/cat-gcmc-pao-news-en/2326-art-news-1-02-jan-18-en.html GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY (Dec. 28, 2017) – Bundeswehr Lt. Gen. Ludwig Leinhos, commander and chief of Germany’s newly founded Cyber and Information Domain Service, talks about how digitalization is a game changer
5. Web site: Bundeswehr der Zeitenwende: Kriegstüchtig sein, um abschrecken zu können. 2024-04-05. 2024-04-04. bundeswehr.de. de.
6. http://cir.bundeswehr.de/resource/resource/YjR0QzY3aWZvTE4yUHd5Vk55eFhUZFo5dGh3aGZlRTE1VnNvSDFHRnNjUFVxa1l1S3hITWlWRFlRM3ZUSUVjM0NxYXNjck1BVG1RdFBZdWlqNTZ2d3lVY2N0TzRuOE9zakR5STNzcklUTWs9/Flyer_CIR_engl.pdf Flyer Cyber and Information Domain Service