Frank Kuhn
@frankkuhn.bsky.social
Doctoral Researcher @PRIF.org | Coordinator @cntrarmscontrol.org | Nuclear Scholar @poni.csis.org | Nuclear Weapons | Arms Control | Nuclear Deterrence | Cold War History | Military Technology and Strategy | Opinions my own
Highly insightful piece on interoperability: “Sometimes, even STANAG compliance is insufficient to ensure technical interoperability. [...] Ukrainian forces found that they were unable to set the fuzes from a non-US NATO nation with their US-supplied inductive fuze setters.”
Guns and Ammo: The Ukraine War and NATO’s Ammunition Interoperability Problem - Modern War Institute
If the war in Ukraine has reinforced one truism of modern warfare, it is that artillery remains the king of battle. Its central role in Ukrainian combat operations has been sustained by the commitment...
mwi.westpoint.edu
November 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Highly insightful piece on interoperability: “Sometimes, even STANAG compliance is insufficient to ensure technical interoperability. [...] Ukrainian forces found that they were unable to set the fuzes from a non-US NATO nation with their US-supplied inductive fuze setters.”
“It is not likely to be an accident that unprecedented progress in arms control occurred at the same time that the Soviet system first liberalized and then disintegrated.”
Jervis, Robert. “Arms Control, Stability, and Causes of War.” Political Science Quarterly 108, no. 2 (1993): 239–53.
Jervis, Robert. “Arms Control, Stability, and Causes of War.” Political Science Quarterly 108, no. 2 (1993): 239–53.
November 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM
“It is not likely to be an accident that unprecedented progress in arms control occurred at the same time that the Soviet system first liberalized and then disintegrated.”
Jervis, Robert. “Arms Control, Stability, and Causes of War.” Political Science Quarterly 108, no. 2 (1993): 239–53.
Jervis, Robert. “Arms Control, Stability, and Causes of War.” Political Science Quarterly 108, no. 2 (1993): 239–53.
“Suppression of enemy air defenses should become a core competency for American attack helicopter pilots. [...] Without the capability to conduct their own suppression of enemy air defenses in support of their primary missions, helicopters will watch the next war from the sidelines.”
Attack Helicopters Must Hunt the Hunters
“Bingo” means the point of no return: the call that fuel is running dry and the mission is over. The same call now threatens the attack helicopter itself.
warontherocks.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
“Suppression of enemy air defenses should become a core competency for American attack helicopter pilots. [...] Without the capability to conduct their own suppression of enemy air defenses in support of their primary missions, helicopters will watch the next war from the sidelines.”
🚄 Im ICE mit 40 Minuten Verspätung: „Es tut mir leid, Sie heute wieder in diesem Maße herausfordern zu müssen.“
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
🚄 Im ICE mit 40 Minuten Verspätung: „Es tut mir leid, Sie heute wieder in diesem Maße herausfordern zu müssen.“
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
The new CNTR Monitor is here!
We take a look at technological trends with an impact on peace and security. The first half is dedicated to this year's focus topic, “New Realities of AI in Global Security”.
Read online or download here: monitor.cntrarmscontrol.org/en/2025/
#openaccess
We take a look at technological trends with an impact on peace and security. The first half is dedicated to this year's focus topic, “New Realities of AI in Global Security”.
Read online or download here: monitor.cntrarmscontrol.org/en/2025/
#openaccess
November 6, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The new CNTR Monitor is here!
We take a look at technological trends with an impact on peace and security. The first half is dedicated to this year's focus topic, “New Realities of AI in Global Security”.
Read online or download here: monitor.cntrarmscontrol.org/en/2025/
#openaccess
We take a look at technological trends with an impact on peace and security. The first half is dedicated to this year's focus topic, “New Realities of AI in Global Security”.
Read online or download here: monitor.cntrarmscontrol.org/en/2025/
#openaccess
Good Morning Berlin! 🌅
November 6, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Good Morning Berlin! 🌅
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
If American attack helicopters can’t take out enemy air defenses, they won’t fly at all.
Attack Helicopters Must Hunt the Hunters
“Bingo” means the point of no return: the call that fuel is running dry and the mission is over. The same call now threatens the attack helicopter itself.
warontherocks.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
If American attack helicopters can’t take out enemy air defenses, they won’t fly at all.
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
KI schafft neue Realitäten in der internationalen Sicherheit. Warum wir deshalb KI-Regulierung neu denken müssen, schreiben @k3kr.bsky.social und @mgoettsche.bsky.social in einem Gastbeitrag für @table.media (€) – und geben dabei einen Ausblick auf den neuen CNTR Monitor, der am 6.11. erscheint.
Wir müssen KI-Regulierung neu denken
Bisherige Ansätze in der Rüstungskontrolle könnten nicht mit dem Innovationstempo von KI mithalten, schreiben die Forscher Kadri Reis und Malte Göttsche. Deshalb empfehlen sie hier und ab Donnerstag i...
table.media
November 5, 2025 at 8:22 AM
KI schafft neue Realitäten in der internationalen Sicherheit. Warum wir deshalb KI-Regulierung neu denken müssen, schreiben @k3kr.bsky.social und @mgoettsche.bsky.social in einem Gastbeitrag für @table.media (€) – und geben dabei einen Ausblick auf den neuen CNTR Monitor, der am 6.11. erscheint.
“A French Army artillery demonstration in pouring rain in the south-east of the country last week showed the limits of modern warfare: When the weather gets miserable, cannons may still fire, but drones stay grounded.”
In rain and mud, French artillery unit shows lessons from Ukraine war
The demonstration showed how France’s 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment is trying to adapt to a drone-dominated battlefield.
www.defensenews.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
“A French Army artillery demonstration in pouring rain in the south-east of the country last week showed the limits of modern warfare: When the weather gets miserable, cannons may still fire, but drones stay grounded.”
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
Reuters: "A military source said a [ground-launched] 9M729 fired by Russia on October 5 flew over 1,200 km to its impact in Ukraine."
Exclusive: Russia uses missile in Ukraine that led Trump to quit nuclear treaty [in 2019], Kyiv says www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Russia uses missile in Ukraine that led Trump to quit nuclear treaty [in 2019], Kyiv says www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reuters: "A military source said a [ground-launched] 9M729 fired by Russia on October 5 flew over 1,200 km to its impact in Ukraine."
Exclusive: Russia uses missile in Ukraine that led Trump to quit nuclear treaty [in 2019], Kyiv says www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Russia uses missile in Ukraine that led Trump to quit nuclear treaty [in 2019], Kyiv says www.reuters.com/business/aer...
A great overview on the use of additive manufacturing in the military technology sector by @liskasuckau.bsky.social. 👇
Additive Manufacturing in the Military Technology Sector: In the new PRIF Report, @liskasuckau.bsky.social provides a unique overview of the socio-technical environment of this emerged technology, coloquially known as 3D printing.
Additive Manufacturing in the Military Technology Sector
New PRIF Report by Liska Suckau
www.prif.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:10 AM
A great overview on the use of additive manufacturing in the military technology sector by @liskasuckau.bsky.social. 👇
“[N]uclear targeting would focus primarily on Russian territory and probably on Belarus but no longer – as in the Cold War – on NATO terrain.”
At the same time, this makes the risk of rapid escalation even more likely than during the Cold War...
At the same time, this makes the risk of rapid escalation even more likely than during the Cold War...
Why NATO needs a new nuclear strategy
Opinion: A modern NATO nuclear strategy does not require reinventing the wheel, writes German defense analyst Karl-Heinz Kamp.
www.defensenews.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
“[N]uclear targeting would focus primarily on Russian territory and probably on Belarus but no longer – as in the Cold War – on NATO terrain.”
At the same time, this makes the risk of rapid escalation even more likely than during the Cold War...
At the same time, this makes the risk of rapid escalation even more likely than during the Cold War...
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
Fresh off the press: The new CNTR Monitor will be published on November 6. This year we focus on AI and its impacts on global security: how it's used in the military, dual-use risks of AI applications in biotechnology and chemistry, but also opportunities for verification. Stay tuned!
October 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Fresh off the press: The new CNTR Monitor will be published on November 6. This year we focus on AI and its impacts on global security: how it's used in the military, dual-use risks of AI applications in biotechnology and chemistry, but also opportunities for verification. Stay tuned!
“European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA)” 😬
"The Bundeswehr plans to buy 400 Tomahawk Block Vb cruise missiles for roughly €1.15 billion, along with three Lockheed Martin Typhon launchers valued at €220 million — a combination that would give Germany a 2,000-kilometer strike reach." www.politico.eu/article/germ...
h/t @bjoernm.bsky.social
h/t @bjoernm.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 8:35 AM
“European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA)” 😬
”The Gripen E’s new EW system uses three types of signal generators to either try to obscure the existence of the aircraft or cause confusion about its location and/or existence so that an adversary cannot choose a proper firing solution.“
Ukraine picked the Gripen. Here’s why — and where there may be challenges - Breaking Defense
"But in the end Ukraine will have a dramatically improved level of air power projection — the likes of which the no one had seen in this part of the world before,” said a Ukrainian defense enterprise ...
breakingdefense.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
”The Gripen E’s new EW system uses three types of signal generators to either try to obscure the existence of the aircraft or cause confusion about its location and/or existence so that an adversary cannot choose a proper firing solution.“
“The notion of stability, in short, is tossed around casually and with great frequency in public consideration of and debate over arms control, however irrelevant it may be to the actual practice of arms control.”
October 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“The notion of stability, in short, is tossed around casually and with great frequency in public consideration of and debate over arms control, however irrelevant it may be to the actual practice of arms control.”
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
1/2
Bemerkenswertes zum "Anti-Woke"-Feldzug der jetzigen Pentagon-Führung. Die US-Streitkräfte waren der früher Gesellschaft teils voraus:
👉 Das Militär hob die Segregation bei der Bildung 1948 auf, sechs Jahre vor dem entscheidenden Urteil "Brown v. Board of Education".
Bemerkenswertes zum "Anti-Woke"-Feldzug der jetzigen Pentagon-Führung. Die US-Streitkräfte waren der früher Gesellschaft teils voraus:
👉 Das Militär hob die Segregation bei der Bildung 1948 auf, sechs Jahre vor dem entscheidenden Urteil "Brown v. Board of Education".
October 23, 2025 at 10:32 AM
1/2
Bemerkenswertes zum "Anti-Woke"-Feldzug der jetzigen Pentagon-Führung. Die US-Streitkräfte waren der früher Gesellschaft teils voraus:
👉 Das Militär hob die Segregation bei der Bildung 1948 auf, sechs Jahre vor dem entscheidenden Urteil "Brown v. Board of Education".
Bemerkenswertes zum "Anti-Woke"-Feldzug der jetzigen Pentagon-Führung. Die US-Streitkräfte waren der früher Gesellschaft teils voraus:
👉 Das Militär hob die Segregation bei der Bildung 1948 auf, sechs Jahre vor dem entscheidenden Urteil "Brown v. Board of Education".
“Common aircraft models — such as the F-35 and F-16 — should mean common spare parts, ground support equipment and mechanics who can fix similar planes from different nations.
But the reality is more complicated.”
But the reality is more complicated.”
US, Europe fly the same jets, but can’t always fix each other’s: Rand
Variants within the same plane model, incompatible support equipment and a lack of shared data create barriers to interoperability, a Rand report warns.
www.defensenews.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:01 AM
“Common aircraft models — such as the F-35 and F-16 — should mean common spare parts, ground support equipment and mechanics who can fix similar planes from different nations.
But the reality is more complicated.”
But the reality is more complicated.”
“Russia is protecting its nuclear submarine fleet in the Arctic with an undersea surveillance system built using high-tech equipment acquired from U.S. and European companies through a secret procurement network [...].”
Russia acquired Western technology to protect its nuclear submarine fleet
Russia secretly used front companies to buy Western technology and erect a surveillance net in the Arctic where its submarines operate, an investigation shows.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:28 AM
“Russia is protecting its nuclear submarine fleet in the Arctic with an undersea surveillance system built using high-tech equipment acquired from U.S. and European companies through a secret procurement network [...].”
“But being able to get away with something does not make it legitimate. No one should underestimate the consequences of treating what is by all accounts a criminal enforcement problem as ‘war,’ triggering the use of combat power to kill criminals as a measure of first resort.”
Why U.S. Strikes Against Drug Boats Matter
On Oct. 14, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States had once more attacked an alleged drug smuggling small boat in
warontherocks.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM
“But being able to get away with something does not make it legitimate. No one should underestimate the consequences of treating what is by all accounts a criminal enforcement problem as ‘war,’ triggering the use of combat power to kill criminals as a measure of first resort.”
@poni.csis.org is now accepting applications for the 2026 Nuclear Scholars cohort! Just as this year, PONI is able offer a few spots to non-U.S. citizens for 2026.
I have had the opportunity to participate this year and cannot recommend the program enough. Apply by November 17!
I have had the opportunity to participate this year and cannot recommend the program enough. Apply by November 17!
Nuclear Scholars Initiative - Nuclear Network
The Nuclear Scholars Initiative aims to provide top graduate students and young professionals from around the country with a unique venue to interact and dialogue with senior experts on nuclear weapon...
nuclearnetwork.csis.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
@poni.csis.org is now accepting applications for the 2026 Nuclear Scholars cohort! Just as this year, PONI is able offer a few spots to non-U.S. citizens for 2026.
I have had the opportunity to participate this year and cannot recommend the program enough. Apply by November 17!
I have had the opportunity to participate this year and cannot recommend the program enough. Apply by November 17!
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
Before you add John Bolton’s indictment to the growing pile of specious prosecutions of Donald Trump’s enemies, stop and read the Justice Department's allegations. This case is not like the others (Comey, James, more to come). My latest: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
The Bolton Case Is Not Like the Others
Trump wanted these charges, but that doesn’t make them baseless.
www.theatlantic.com
October 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Before you add John Bolton’s indictment to the growing pile of specious prosecutions of Donald Trump’s enemies, stop and read the Justice Department's allegations. This case is not like the others (Comey, James, more to come). My latest: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Frank Kuhn
PONI is now accepting applications for its Nuclear Scholars Initiative! Young professionals with less than 7 years of experience are welcome to apply for the Class of 2026.
Apply by November 17:
Apply by November 17:
Nuclear Scholars Initiative - Nuclear Network
The Nuclear Scholars Initiative aims to provide top graduate students and young professionals from around the country with a unique venue to interact and dialogue with senior experts on nuclear…
nuclearnetwork.csis.org
October 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
PONI is now accepting applications for its Nuclear Scholars Initiative! Young professionals with less than 7 years of experience are welcome to apply for the Class of 2026.
Apply by November 17:
Apply by November 17: