Peter Felstead
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Peter Felstead
@peterfelstead.bsky.social
33 followers 56 following 39 posts
Freelance aerospace and defence journalist, news editor for European Security & Defence magazine.
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peterfelstead.bsky.social
Now that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is being shuffled off to Sandriberia, I wonder what's going to happen to that teddy of his with the T-shirt that reads 'It's tough being a Prince'. Perhaps it'll find itself on the wrong end of a 'straightforward shooting weekend'.
November 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
While it would be far too premature to assert that things are moving in Kyiv's favour, Ukraine's development and use of indigenous deep-strike weapons is presenting a significant headache for Moscow:
euro-sd.com/2025/10/majo...
Ukraine extends its deep strike capabilities into Russia with tangible effects - European Security & Defence
Ukraine is managing to employ indigenously developed systems to strike deep into Russia with potentially significant effect.
euro-sd.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Longer-range laser-based air defences are now close to becoming a reality:
euro-sd.com/2025/09/majo...
Rafael and IMOD complete development of Iron Beam laser weapon - European Security & Defence
Development of Rafael’s Iron Beam 450 laser weapon is now complete, with delivery to the IDF due to take place soon, Rafael has announced.
euro-sd.com
September 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
The British armed forces are getting back into ballooning. The first British balloon built for military purposes, Pioneer, was constructed in 1878 for just £71 - way less than the programme's budget of £150. How times change!
euro-sd.com/2025/07/majo...
UK’s DE&S looks to balloons to provide low-cost ISR and communications solution - European Security & Defence
High-altitude balloons could soon be used by the UK armed forces as a low-cost ISR and communications solution, the UK's DE&S has announced.
euro-sd.com
July 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Trump is finally doing the right thing (albeit while lining the pockets of the US defence industry):
euro-sd.com/2025/07/majo...
President Trump finally gets behind Ukraine with arms shipments and economic pressure on Russia - European Security & Defence
President Trump has signalled a major shift in his administration’s support for Ukraine with arms shipments and economic pressure on Russia.
euro-sd.com
July 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Are mines always bad? I'm not convinced they are:
euro-sd.com/2025/07/majo...
Ukraine joins other neighbours of Russia in moving to withdraw from Ottawa Convention - European Security & Defence
Ukraine is joining other countries next to Russia in withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, known also as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty.
euro-sd.com
June 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
I always thought it made sense for the UK to buy F-35As as well as Bs, but we'll certainly need more STOVL jets to ensure the QE-class carriers remain effective.
euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
UK officially announces intention to purchase F-35As to contribute to NATO nuclear mission - European Security & Defence
The UK is to procure 12 F-35A CTOL JSFs to contribute to NATO’s Dual-Capable Aircraft nuclear mission, the UK MoD announced on 24 June 2025.
euro-sd.com
June 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Palestinian Action breaking into RAF Brize Norton raises many issues. I'm not convinced labelling them as terrorists is the answer:

euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
Activist assault on RAF Voyagers poses difficult questions for UK MoD and government - European Security & Defence
After Palestine Action broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two RAF Voyagers, the UK MoD and government are facing difficult questions.
euro-sd.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
I hope the BDA looks good from this one:
euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’: perhaps an execution of the inevitable - European Security & Defence
Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’ on 21 June 2025 was the largest strike by B-2s thus far and saw the first operational use of the GBU-57 MOP.
euro-sd.com
June 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
This would be an interesting development:
euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
Paris Air Show 2025: Boeing considers re-opening C-17 production line - European Security & Defence
Boeing’s leadership is actively considering a regeneration of the production line for the C-17 Globemaster III airlifter, which closed in 2015.
euro-sd.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:38 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
A long-form look at what's actually in the UK Strategic Defence Review
euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
UK releases ambitious Strategic Defence Review, as questions remain over affordability - European Security & Defence
The UK MoD published its much-anticipated Strategic Defence Review on 2 June 2025, as questions remain over whether it's affordable.
euro-sd.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
More Ukrainian awesomeness:
euro-sd.com/2025/06/majo...
Ukraine's Operation ‘Pavutyna’ strikes major blow to Russian strategic aviation - European Security & Defence
Ukraine carried out its most audacious strike yet against Russia on 1 June 2025 as drone-based attacks on four Russian airfields left around 40 strategic bombers critically damaged or destroyed. Condu...
euro-sd.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
euro-sd.com/2025/05/majo...
Rafael claims historical first as its laser weapon downs hostile air threats in combat - European Security & Defence
Rafael has claimed a historical first by becoming the first company to have developed a laser that has brought down hostile air threats in combat.
euro-sd.com
May 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Whoops. It looks like someone at North Korea's Chongjin Shipyard is going to be lined up in front of an anti-aircraft gun.
euro-sd.com/2025/05/majo...
North Korea’s second destroyer seriously damaged during launch attempt - European Security & Defence
In an attempt to launch North Korea’s latest destroyer on 21 May 2025, the ship may have instead been damaged virtually beyond repair.
euro-sd.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Potentially a PGM game-changer:
euro-sd.com/2025/05/majo...
Tiberius bursts onto scene with 150 km-range, ramjet-powered precision 155 mm round - European Security & Defence
At a press briefing in London on 19 May 2025 Tiberius Aerospace announced both its own arrival and that of its first product: the Sceptre round.
euro-sd.com
May 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
Ukrainian operators making more history:
euro-sd.com/2025/05/majo...
Ukrainian USVs make history by shooting down Russian Su-30 fighters - European Security & Defence
On 2 May 2025 Ukrainian operators destroyed two Russian Su-30 fighters operating in the Black Sea region using missiles launched from USVs.
euro-sd.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
I really hope that this is a true resetting of US-Ukrainian relations:
euro-sd.com/2025/05/majo...
US-Ukrainian mineral deal promises to revive Kyiv’s relations with Washington - European Security & Defence
Ukraine’s on again/off again relationship with the US appears to be back on with the signing of a long-awaited mineral deal on 30 April 2025.
euro-sd.com
May 1, 2025 at 9:03 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
This plan has really accelerated:
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
UK MoD announces fully funded plan to mount DragonFire LDEW on Type 45 destroyers by 2027 - European Security & Defence
The UK MoD has announced that a fully funded plan is in place to mount the DragonFire LDEW on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027.
euro-sd.com
March 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
In the open press the response from European political leaders to the Trump Administration's Signal security breach has been somewhat muted. Behind closed doors, however, they must be horrified.
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
Trump Administration officials attempt to shrug off major security breach - European Security & Defence
Trump Administration officials are attempting to shrug off a major security breach after a journalist became party to a confidential Signal grout chat.
euro-sd.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
This could get messy:
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
Canada reassessing its commitment to buying F-35s in wake of trade war with Trump - European Security & Defence
Newly installed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked his defence minister to review Canada’s purchase of the F-35.
euro-sd.com
March 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
This won't dent the F-35 programme too much, but it is a wider indication of Europe learning -- and ultimately demonstrating -- that it doesn't think Trump can be trusted.
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
Portugal appears to back out of F-35 buy in light of Trump’s attitude to Europe - European Security & Defence
Portugal looks to be backing out of plans to buy the F-35 due to US President Trump’s lack of commitment or solidarity with Europe and NATO.
euro-sd.com
March 14, 2025 at 5:25 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
This latest move in Trump's 'war on woke' suggests the US DoD will have to come up with another seven US Army heroes who share the same surnames – Gordon, Hill, Hood, Lee, Pickett, Polk and Rucker – as the Confederate generals those bases were originally named after.
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
Name of Fort Moore reverts back to Fort Benning as Trump Administration continues its ‘war on woke’ - European Security & Defence
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on 3 March 2025 directing Ft Moore to be reverted back to its original name of Ft Benning.
euro-sd.com
March 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
For Putin it just doesn't get any better than this:
euro-sd.com/2025/03/majo...
Kyiv’s worst fears materialise as Trump suspends US military aid to Ukraine - European Security & Defence
On 3 March 2025 US President Donald Trump ordered a suspension of US military aid to Ukraine amid its struggle against the Russian invasion.
euro-sd.com
March 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
The lamentable current state of US military geopolitics:
euro-sd.com/2025/02/majo...
US military geopolitics appears to have ‘fallen through the looking glass’ - European Security & Defence
As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passed on 22 February 2025, US military geopolitics has ‘fallen through the looking glass’.
euro-sd.com
February 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
peterfelstead.bsky.social
The 2025 Military Balance is out:
euro-sd.com/2025/02/majo...
Russia losing armour in Ukraine at an unsustainable rate, confirms IISS - European Security & Defence
Russia lost 1,400 MBTs in Ukraine in 2024 and has lost a total of more than 4,000 MBTs since its invasion of Ukraine began, according to the IISS.
euro-sd.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM