Bridge To Mission
@bridgetomission.bsky.social
We explore how states can build sovereign leverage for the 2020s in my latest essay:
open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
From Theatre to Stack
Defining Sovereign Leverage in the 2020s
open.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:56 AM
We explore how states can build sovereign leverage for the 2020s in my latest essay:
open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
From rare earths to chip fabs, from fibre cables to cloud platforms, leverage is now multi-layered and industrial, not just military.
September 21, 2025 at 5:56 AM
From rare earths to chip fabs, from fibre cables to cloud platforms, leverage is now multi-layered and industrial, not just military.
Who controls the “stack”, the flow of data, energy, materials, capital & code, defines who sets the rules.
𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Shape it, and you shape your sovereignty.
𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Shape it, and you shape your sovereignty.
September 21, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Who controls the “stack”, the flow of data, energy, materials, capital & code, defines who sets the rules.
𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Shape it, and you shape your sovereignty.
𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Shape it, and you shape your sovereignty.
6/6 Across generations, deception remains a force multiplier in warfare. Ukraine today, like the Allies then, shows how illusion can shield lives, confound adversaries, and extract strategic value from scarcity.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
6/6 Across generations, deception remains a force multiplier in warfare. Ukraine today, like the Allies then, shows how illusion can shield lives, confound adversaries, and extract strategic value from scarcity.
5/6 Fast forward 80 years: Ukraine’s use of inflatable HIMARS and dummy artillery echoes that same playbook. Crafted cheaply and deployed quickly, these decoys invite Russia to waste advanced missiles on targets far less cunning than they appear.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
5/6 Fast forward 80 years: Ukraine’s use of inflatable HIMARS and dummy artillery echoes that same playbook. Crafted cheaply and deployed quickly, these decoys invite Russia to waste advanced missiles on targets far less cunning than they appear.
4/6 A key WWII example: prior to D-Day, dummy equipment, including inflatable Shermans and wooden landing craft, helped convince the Nazis the invasion would hit Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy. This strategic illusion delayed German reinforcements to where the real attack happened.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
4/6 A key WWII example: prior to D-Day, dummy equipment, including inflatable Shermans and wooden landing craft, helped convince the Nazis the invasion would hit Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy. This strategic illusion delayed German reinforcements to where the real attack happened.
3/6 The U.S. Ghost Army took deception further, a top-secret WWII unit (23rd Headquarters Special Troops), used inflatable tanks, sound trucks, fake radio traffic, and theatrical tactics to simulate real divisions, tricking German reconnaissance and buying time for Allied operations.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
3/6 The U.S. Ghost Army took deception further, a top-secret WWII unit (23rd Headquarters Special Troops), used inflatable tanks, sound trucks, fake radio traffic, and theatrical tactics to simulate real divisions, tricking German reconnaissance and buying time for Allied operations.
2/6 This isn’t new. During WWII, the Allies famously used inflatable tanks, dummy landing craft, and fake camps to mislead German forces ahead of D-Day. Operation Bodyguard, especially Fortitude South, simulated an entire phantom army in southeast England to divert attention from Normandy.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
2/6 This isn’t new. During WWII, the Allies famously used inflatable tanks, dummy landing craft, and fake camps to mislead German forces ahead of D-Day. Operation Bodyguard, especially Fortitude South, simulated an entire phantom army in southeast England to divert attention from Normandy.
1/6 The BBC today uncovers how Ukraine is using inflatable tanks and flat-pack guns as decoys to protect real assets and trick Russian strikes. These visually convincing imitations divert expensive missiles and drones away from genuine targets.
September 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
1/6 The BBC today uncovers how Ukraine is using inflatable tanks and flat-pack guns as decoys to protect real assets and trick Russian strikes. These visually convincing imitations divert expensive missiles and drones away from genuine targets.
So What?
For Western planners, the lesson is clear: the pacing challenge is accelerating. Responding requires not just more spending, but sharper integration of #doctrine, #technology, and #industrial capacity.
For Western planners, the lesson is clear: the pacing challenge is accelerating. Responding requires not just more spending, but sharper integration of #doctrine, #technology, and #industrial capacity.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
So What?
For Western planners, the lesson is clear: the pacing challenge is accelerating. Responding requires not just more spending, but sharper integration of #doctrine, #technology, and #industrial capacity.
For Western planners, the lesson is clear: the pacing challenge is accelerating. Responding requires not just more spending, but sharper integration of #doctrine, #technology, and #industrial capacity.
6/6. A #parade with purpose
This was not just a show of strength for domestic audiences alone, but a carefully curated message: the PLA is modern, #technologically ambitious, and #strategically focused on deterring and defeating #US #intervention in the #Indo-Pacific.
This was not just a show of strength for domestic audiences alone, but a carefully curated message: the PLA is modern, #technologically ambitious, and #strategically focused on deterring and defeating #US #intervention in the #Indo-Pacific.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
6/6. A #parade with purpose
This was not just a show of strength for domestic audiences alone, but a carefully curated message: the PLA is modern, #technologically ambitious, and #strategically focused on deterring and defeating #US #intervention in the #Indo-Pacific.
This was not just a show of strength for domestic audiences alone, but a carefully curated message: the PLA is modern, #technologically ambitious, and #strategically focused on deterring and defeating #US #intervention in the #Indo-Pacific.
4/5. Hypersonics meet sea denial
The YJ-17 #hypersonic anti-ship missile, one of four new variants shown, reinforces China’s “carrier killer” doctrine. Hypersonic glide vehicles complicate missile defence, sharpening the threat to US forces operating in the Indo-Pacific.
The YJ-17 #hypersonic anti-ship missile, one of four new variants shown, reinforces China’s “carrier killer” doctrine. Hypersonic glide vehicles complicate missile defence, sharpening the threat to US forces operating in the Indo-Pacific.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
4/5. Hypersonics meet sea denial
The YJ-17 #hypersonic anti-ship missile, one of four new variants shown, reinforces China’s “carrier killer” doctrine. Hypersonic glide vehicles complicate missile defence, sharpening the threat to US forces operating in the Indo-Pacific.
The YJ-17 #hypersonic anti-ship missile, one of four new variants shown, reinforces China’s “carrier killer” doctrine. Hypersonic glide vehicles complicate missile defence, sharpening the threat to US forces operating in the Indo-Pacific.
3/6. Directed energy at sea
The debut of the LY-1 shipborne laser illustrates how Beijing is integrating directed energy into fleet defence. Given recent incidents of Chinese ships using lasers against foreign aircraft, this raises real questions of intent and escalation.
The debut of the LY-1 shipborne laser illustrates how Beijing is integrating directed energy into fleet defence. Given recent incidents of Chinese ships using lasers against foreign aircraft, this raises real questions of intent and escalation.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
3/6. Directed energy at sea
The debut of the LY-1 shipborne laser illustrates how Beijing is integrating directed energy into fleet defence. Given recent incidents of Chinese ships using lasers against foreign aircraft, this raises real questions of intent and escalation.
The debut of the LY-1 shipborne laser illustrates how Beijing is integrating directed energy into fleet defence. Given recent incidents of Chinese ships using lasers against foreign aircraft, this raises real questions of intent and escalation.
2/6. Learning from recent wars
The prominence of #anti-drone defences, from #lasers to microwave #weapons to turretless tanks, shows how closely the PLA has studied #Ukraine, #Gaza, and #South #Asia. China expects #drones and #counter-drone systems to define any future #Taiwan conflict.
The prominence of #anti-drone defences, from #lasers to microwave #weapons to turretless tanks, shows how closely the PLA has studied #Ukraine, #Gaza, and #South #Asia. China expects #drones and #counter-drone systems to define any future #Taiwan conflict.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
2/6. Learning from recent wars
The prominence of #anti-drone defences, from #lasers to microwave #weapons to turretless tanks, shows how closely the PLA has studied #Ukraine, #Gaza, and #South #Asia. China expects #drones and #counter-drone systems to define any future #Taiwan conflict.
The prominence of #anti-drone defences, from #lasers to microwave #weapons to turretless tanks, shows how closely the PLA has studied #Ukraine, #Gaza, and #South #Asia. China expects #drones and #counter-drone systems to define any future #Taiwan conflict.
1/6. #Nuclear triad on display
For the first time, Beijing rolled out all three legs of a nuclear triad: land-based DF-61 ICBMs, the JL-3 #submarine-launched missile, and the JL-1 air-launched system. Symbolically, it tells the US and its allies that deterrence demonstrable.
For the first time, Beijing rolled out all three legs of a nuclear triad: land-based DF-61 ICBMs, the JL-3 #submarine-launched missile, and the JL-1 air-launched system. Symbolically, it tells the US and its allies that deterrence demonstrable.
September 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
1/6. #Nuclear triad on display
For the first time, Beijing rolled out all three legs of a nuclear triad: land-based DF-61 ICBMs, the JL-3 #submarine-launched missile, and the JL-1 air-launched system. Symbolically, it tells the US and its allies that deterrence demonstrable.
For the first time, Beijing rolled out all three legs of a nuclear triad: land-based DF-61 ICBMs, the JL-3 #submarine-launched missile, and the JL-1 air-launched system. Symbolically, it tells the US and its allies that deterrence demonstrable.
Deeper thoughts here on 5/9/25 at 8.30am (BST): open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
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open.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Deeper thoughts here on 5/9/25 at 8.30am (BST): open.substack.com/pub/bridgeto...
The 2020s must be about alignment: strategy with structure, culture with capability, doctrine with delivery. The doctrine gap is not theoretical - it’s a strategic liability. #DefenceInnovation
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The 2020s must be about alignment: strategy with structure, culture with capability, doctrine with delivery. The doctrine gap is not theoretical - it’s a strategic liability. #DefenceInnovation
Closing the doctrine gap requires:
1️⃣ Doctrine-led innovation
2️⃣ Middle-layer mobilisation
3️⃣ Operator feedback loops
4️⃣ Agile acquisition
5️⃣ Culture & leadership investment
1️⃣ Doctrine-led innovation
2️⃣ Middle-layer mobilisation
3️⃣ Operator feedback loops
4️⃣ Agile acquisition
5️⃣ Culture & leadership investment
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Closing the doctrine gap requires:
1️⃣ Doctrine-led innovation
2️⃣ Middle-layer mobilisation
3️⃣ Operator feedback loops
4️⃣ Agile acquisition
5️⃣ Culture & leadership investment
1️⃣ Doctrine-led innovation
2️⃣ Middle-layer mobilisation
3️⃣ Operator feedback loops
4️⃣ Agile acquisition
5️⃣ Culture & leadership investment
Procurement isn’t product management. Agile acquisition, iterative delivery, and MVP approaches (civilian-style) are essential for capabilities to arrive at the speed of relevance. #AcquisitionReform
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Procurement isn’t product management. Agile acquisition, iterative delivery, and MVP approaches (civilian-style) are essential for capabilities to arrive at the speed of relevance. #AcquisitionReform
Culture is critical. Decentralised decision-making, empowered operators, and “decision at the edge” models improve speed, resilience, and operational outcomes. #MissionCommand #Leadership
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Culture is critical. Decentralised decision-making, empowered operators, and “decision at the edge” models improve speed, resilience, and operational outcomes. #MissionCommand #Leadership
Key insight: the middle layer including SMEs, dual-use firms, systems integrators, is now the operational centre of gravity. Primes alone can’t scale or adapt fast enough. #InnovationEcosystem
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Key insight: the middle layer including SMEs, dual-use firms, systems integrators, is now the operational centre of gravity. Primes alone can’t scale or adapt fast enough. #InnovationEcosystem