William Freer
@willfreer.bsky.social
Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy | Interested in 🇬🇧 defence and foreign policy | From Leicestershire but part time Stoke City fan
First flight with an F-35 carrying Meteor BVRAAM conducted (its a tight fit on the smaller internal bay of the F-35B)
Initially aimed to be operational by mid-2020s, has now slipped to before the end of decade
Hopefully a sign the process is speeding up
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
Initially aimed to be operational by mid-2020s, has now slipped to before the end of decade
Hopefully a sign the process is speeding up
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
Meteor's first flight on an F-35B
Test flights conducted of a Meteor missile on an F-35B.
www.raf.mod.uk
February 28, 2025 at 11:09 AM
First flight with an F-35 carrying Meteor BVRAAM conducted (its a tight fit on the smaller internal bay of the F-35B)
Initially aimed to be operational by mid-2020s, has now slipped to before the end of decade
Hopefully a sign the process is speeding up
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
Initially aimed to be operational by mid-2020s, has now slipped to before the end of decade
Hopefully a sign the process is speeding up
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
Latest update to 🇬🇧 armed forces and equipment lists is now out (after a few days delay)
Lower numbers in most areas as you would expect, & that is without latest cuts factored in, but with some growth in new equipment (eg Ajax up to 128 from 44 and MLRS up to 43 from 29)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Lower numbers in most areas as you would expect, & that is without latest cuts factored in, but with some growth in new equipment (eg Ajax up to 128 from 44 and MLRS up to 43 from 29)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
UK armed forces equipment and formations 2024
Annual statistics on vessels, land equipment and aircraft of the armed forces, and military formations.
www.gov.uk
February 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Latest update to 🇬🇧 armed forces and equipment lists is now out (after a few days delay)
Lower numbers in most areas as you would expect, & that is without latest cuts factored in, but with some growth in new equipment (eg Ajax up to 128 from 44 and MLRS up to 43 from 29)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Lower numbers in most areas as you would expect, & that is without latest cuts factored in, but with some growth in new equipment (eg Ajax up to 128 from 44 and MLRS up to 43 from 29)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
An interesting read: There will be some frustrated at the development budget cut & there will be some frustrated defence spending didn’t go further
But the words & actions of the last few hours are a great sign 🇬🇧 is prepared to step up to the challenges we face; hopefully more to come
But the words & actions of the last few hours are a great sign 🇬🇧 is prepared to step up to the challenges we face; hopefully more to come
This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy
This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy
Putin’s Russia is a threat to all Europe, including the UK. Vital aid work will be hit as we spend more on defence, but we must deal with the world as it is, says foreign secretary David Lammy
www.theguardian.com
February 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
An interesting read: There will be some frustrated at the development budget cut & there will be some frustrated defence spending didn’t go further
But the words & actions of the last few hours are a great sign 🇬🇧 is prepared to step up to the challenges we face; hopefully more to come
But the words & actions of the last few hours are a great sign 🇬🇧 is prepared to step up to the challenges we face; hopefully more to come
Agree on this sentiment: a greater degree of clarity is also needed on timelines and priorities (the job of the SDR) to help MoD/Armed forces/industry make long-term planning assumptions
Hopefully will come in time. 🇦🇺 produced a detailed Integrated Investment Plan alongside its defence strategy
Hopefully will come in time. 🇦🇺 produced a detailed Integrated Investment Plan alongside its defence strategy
February 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Agree on this sentiment: a greater degree of clarity is also needed on timelines and priorities (the job of the SDR) to help MoD/Armed forces/industry make long-term planning assumptions
Hopefully will come in time. 🇦🇺 produced a detailed Integrated Investment Plan alongside its defence strategy
Hopefully will come in time. 🇦🇺 produced a detailed Integrated Investment Plan alongside its defence strategy
Some thoughts three years on from 🇷🇺’s full scale invasion of 🇺🇦
Focusing energy on fixing the twin problems of limited material aid & clear sanctions evasion would have far more impact on bolstering the security of 🇺🇦 than talk of deploying ‘deterrent’ forces
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Focusing energy on fixing the twin problems of limited material aid & clear sanctions evasion would have far more impact on bolstering the security of 🇺🇦 than talk of deploying ‘deterrent’ forces
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Britain can't stop Russia alone – but it can lead the way
It's time for Europe to bolster its defences to stand together against Ukraine.
www.lbc.co.uk
February 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Some thoughts three years on from 🇷🇺’s full scale invasion of 🇺🇦
Focusing energy on fixing the twin problems of limited material aid & clear sanctions evasion would have far more impact on bolstering the security of 🇺🇦 than talk of deploying ‘deterrent’ forces
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Focusing energy on fixing the twin problems of limited material aid & clear sanctions evasion would have far more impact on bolstering the security of 🇺🇦 than talk of deploying ‘deterrent’ forces
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...