The U.S. Navy now has at least 17 warships surrounding the Middle East—that’s more than the destroyer and frigate inventory in the entire Royal Navy.

If anyone who tells you Defence relationship between Germany-UK needs rebuilding, keep in mind that the reality of joint projects is: - TRITON to replace M3 - BOXER - ESSI (although what UK hoped to get signing in is unclear) - Joint APFSDS ammo - RCH155 - CATV (new VIKINGs)

Pentagon: Oil tanker in Red Sea still on fire and “appears to be leaking oil.” European-led coalition claims, “There’s no oil spill.” There are no U.S. assets in the area. Nearby European forces have so far declined to help.

The #NATO- Ukraine Council met to address developments on the battlefield & Ukraine's priority capability needs. Allies strongly condemn the escalation in Russian air strikes on Ukraine. We must continue to provide Ukraine with the equipment & munitions it needs to defend itself.

Meeting of #Nato #Ukraine council - one diplomat said many allies spoke in support of #Ukraine right to defend itself - including attacks inside #Russia. Some spoke in favour of lifting all restrictions on use of western supplied weapons

Ukraine's long-range strikes bring war home to Russia - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Interesting insights into Ukraine's drone programmes (with some comments from Justin Bronk). RUSI has some work coming out soon on the concept of 'cheap mass' and the team published research earlier this year on UAVs and precision strike (link in thread).

Journalism is not a crime. Yet two former Stand News editors have been found guilty of sedition in Hong Kong today, for doing their job. Free media is essential if societies & economies are to prosper. But HK has dropped from 18 to 135 in World Press Freedom Index since 2002.

🚨 From inside Russia’s Kursk… thesun.co.uk/news/30146824/…

“Accountability and incentives are everything here.” Very true from ⁦Tom Sharpe⁩ We can no longer allow “project managers [to make] poor long-term decisions for short term financial (and career) gain…” telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/3…

Sent out my weekend update yesterday. It discusses the wrong headed use of the word strategic, which seems to be applied to every small town that Russia wants to take.

In August, Russia expanded its control in Ukraine by approximately 350 km², marking the largest monthly gain for Russia since August 2022. However, Ukraine crossed into Russia, seizing control of approximately 770 km²— an area equivalent to all Russian advances since the end of

🤦‍♂️ Please stop. No more “thoughts and prayers”. Constantly saying that we stand with Ukraine while actually only standing there is ruining all of the good will and trust we‘d earned in the early days.

Crew of RFA Argus alongside in Diego Garcia today take industrial action

Perhaps best focus on making what you’ve already got to work?

Arms exports and international humanitarian law are complex areas, but in trying to analyse the recent UK government decision, this The Telegraph article misrepresents a subject in which I have some experience. 1/12 telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/0…

Two crew members of Royal Navy Merlin MK 4 - which ditched in English Channel last night - were rescued . Third crew member body was recovered - NOK have been informed

Nicely made videos make no substitute for journalism . If any defence reporter was doing this they’d be highlighting the fact that V boat crews now doing regular deployments of nearly 6 months instead of 3 .

Zelenskiy says at Ramstein US/UK/French have slowed down supplies of long range Atacms and Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles *on Ukrainian territory* occupied by Russia, complains about lack of cooperation - comes after days of grumblings behind the scenes

Royal Navy’s Rhodri Leyshon - who lost his life when his Merlin helicopter ditched n English Channel Wednesday night . His comrades described him as a consummate professional . His family say their lives will never be the same. RIP