Rudy Ruitenberg
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rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Rudy Ruitenberg
@rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
210 followers 220 following 110 posts
Journalist in France writing about business, defense @defensenews.bsky.social, wine @decanter.com, with a special interest in technology, science, climate, weather, agriculture, nature. On occasion teach at Sciences Po Journalism School.
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rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
France 2025 #wine volume forecast to recover from last year's disaster (my wine-growing neighbors in Pouilly-sur-Loire AOC had no grapes at all, and they were not alone) though still not a large crop. Burgundy, Champagne, Loire look good for now, next update Sept. 9 www.decanter.com/wine-news/fr...
French harvest 2025: Volumes to jump as Burgundy, Champagne recover - Decanter
French harvest 2025: Predictions of between 40 and 42.5 million hectolitres, as Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire recover from adverse weather last year
www.decanter.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
France confirms it proposed overhauling cooperation on FR-DE-ES Future Combat Air System based on `strengthening industrial leadership' - @dassaultaviation.bsky.social has been vocal about this / France asks FCAS partners to ‘rethink’ work share on fighter project www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
France asks FCAS partners to ‘rethink’ work share on fighter project
“The principle and details of this redesigned cooperation are currently being discussed with the partners," French armaments agency DGA told Defense News.
www.defensenews.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Rudy Ruitenberg
defensenews-poster.bsky.social
Raytheon says rocket-motor squeeze still constrains missile output - https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/06/24/raytheon-says-rocket-motor-squeeze-still-constrains-missile-output/
Raytheon says rocket-motor squeeze still constrains missile output
“It’s not just about the constraint for demand today, it’s very much more about the increased demand we see in the future,” one company executive said.
www.defensenews.com
June 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
French Navy boss Vaujour spoke about how the @marinenationale.bsky.social applies drones, including an amphibious assault conducted with UAVs and USVs, and uses and limitations of underwater gliders.

French Navy tests unmanned beach assault, expands drone tactics www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
French Navy tests unmanned beach assault, expands drone tactics
In the exercise called Dragoon Fury, the French Navy used its amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre as a drone platform.
www.defensenews.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:17 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
#Burgundy #wine property prices in 2024 shrugged off the malaise that weighed on vineyard values elsewhere in France including #Bordeaux. Average Côte-d’Or prices rose for a 28th year to top €1 m/ha for the 1st time.

Burgundy vineyard prices set new records in 2024 www.decanter.com/wine/burgund...
Burgundy vineyard prices set new records in 2024 - Decanter
Burgundy vineyard: Côte-d’Or vineyard prices rose 11% last year to a record, even as the average cost in France to buy a hectare of vines declined
www.decanter.com
May 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
France moves Polaris naval exercise to the Atlantic. Scenario (?): hybrid attacks on Brest, Cherbourg ports → amphibious ops on English coast → naval battle → landing on French Atlantic coast

France kicks of high-intensity naval exercise targeting Atlantic ports www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
France kicks of high-intensity naval exercise targeting Atlantic ports
Adm. Nicolas Vaujour, the French Navy commander since September 2023, has been seeking to harden the force and strengthen its immediate combat capability.
www.defensenews.com
May 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
The Danish model for Ukraine still going strong in 2025, including spending a significant amount of windfall profits from frozen Russian assets.

Denmark to spend €830 million on Ukrainian defense on behalf of EU www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
www.defensenews.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Another year of lower #wine consumption in 2024 as inflation hits spending, but production drop creates a degree of market equilibrium: both the lowest since 1961. Price trends and trade value indicate there's no wine-sector crisis at the global level, OIV DG says
www.decanter.com/wine-news/gl...
Global wine consumption falls to six-decade low as inflation bites - Decanter
Global wine consumption fell 3.3% last year to the lowest in more than six decades, with inflation weighing on purchasing power
www.decanter.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
@dassaultaviation.bsky.social CEO was bleak on working w/ Airbus on FCAS. “I don’t want to sound arrogant at all, but whose capabilities do I need other than my own to make a combat aircraft?”

Dassault CEO strikes dark tone on Europe’s sixth-gen fighter progress www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
Dassault CEO strikes dark tone on Europe’s sixth-gen fighter progress
Trappier's view contrasts with that of Airbus, which cited "strong progress" in a statement.
www.defensenews.com
April 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
If either Safran-MBDA or Thales-ArianeGroup manage to field a tactical rocket artillery capability by the middle of next year, that would offer a 100% EU-developed alternative to HIMARS/PULS/Chunmoo

France plans to test homemade HIMARS alternative by mid-2026 www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
France plans to test homemade HIMARS alternative by mid-2026
French officials have tasked two industry teams with developing options, while a foreign purchase is also still in the cards.
www.defensenews.com
April 10, 2025 at 11:12 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
New Space really is a different animal. Kongsberg contract from SpinLaunch to build 280 micro sats for LEO for €122.5m, so €438k/sat. Once upon a time sat contracts would be hundreds of millions for a single orbiter (still the case for some GEO monsters of course)

www.kongsberg.com/newsroom/new...
KONGSBERG to deliver 280 microsatellites to SpinLaunch’s LEO satellite communication constellation
SpinLaunch has selected Kongsberg NanoAvionics (‘KONGSBERG’) as its exclusive satellite supplier for its low earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication constellation, Meridian Space. The parties have s...
www.kongsberg.com
April 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
France at this week's Warsaw meeting will push for a successor to the ASAP plan that covers complex munitions (missiles) and is asking the Commission to throw money at IRIS² to speed things up

France calls for new EU ammo plan, speeding up satellite constellation www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
France calls for new EU ammo plan, speeding up satellite constellation
“We have to stop with the big speeches," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, alluding to European Union mechanics for re-arming Europe.
www.defensenews.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
The U.K. speeds up the DragonFire laser weapon program, goal is to equip four Royal Navy destroyers starting in 2027. Defence procurement minister Eagle says schedule now 5 yrs ahead of previous plan

UK rushes naval laser weapon, as major tank upgrade hits snag www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
UK rushes naval laser weapon, as major tank upgrade hits snag
The British government in its Spring Statement in March announced plans to spend at least 10% of the Ministry of Defence equipment budget on new tech.
www.defensenews.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Wowza... five years of ineligibility for an elected position for Marine Le Pen, four years of prison of which two years non-suspended, though they can be fulfilled with an electronic bracelet, €100,000 fine. This can be appealed, but until then, the ineligibility stands, and applies immediately.
afp.com Agence France-Presse @afp.com · Mar 31
Marine Le Pen condamnée à cinq ans d'inégibilité avec effet immédiat ainsi que quatre ans de prison dont deux ferme aménagés sous bracelet
March 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Very important reporting by the @kyivindependent.com that sheds more light on the systemic issues in Ukraine's military command, with feedback from nine commanders from company to brigade level on where things go wrong. The first step to fixing it.
March 27, 2025 at 11:21 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Brekelmans asked his audience to imagine Russian troops on Baltic borders for a large exercise. Ukraine’s experience shows “we know only one week in advance” whether that would foretell an attack
Russia seen ready for big troop move year after Ukraine truce: Dutch www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
Russia seen ready for big troop move year after Ukraine truce: Dutch
The Dutch threat assessment appears even more acute than warnings from German and Danish intelligence reports.
www.defensenews.com
March 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
“Attack plans are actually far more sensitive,” said a former U.S. defense official with experience planning such operations, who spoke anonymously to avoid the threat of retaliation.

‘Obviously classified’: Experts say Hegseth chat leaks invited danger www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
‘Obviously classified’: Experts say Hegseth chat leaks invited danger
Former U.S. defense officials said the unsecured messaging chain could have jeopardized the operation and put American lives at risk.
www.militarytimes.com
March 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
The composition of Germany's vineyards continues to change as winemakers adapt to a warmer #climate. More Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, and also newcomer Cabernet Blanc. Less Müller-Thurgau, Grüner Silvaner and Dornfelder. #wine www.decanter.com/wine-news/ge...
German winemakers plant French grapes as climate warms - Decanter
German winemakers planted grapes such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to replace local varieties in 2024 as the growers adapt to climate change
www.decanter.com
March 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
While the previous round fizzled out, this could potentially be a big deal for European artillery makers — though I guess that will partly depend on where transatlantic relations are headed.
March 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Disengagement in Washington seems real.

European defense officials "described having much more difficulty getting meetings with counterparts in the Defense Department, even with long-term contacts."

For European envoys in DC, a new chill from Trump’s Pentagon www.defensenews.com/pentagon/202...
For European envoys in DC, a new chill from Trump’s Pentagon
Delegates describe having trouble securing meetings with longtime contacts, and listening to scripted spiels about new priorities for the U.S. military.
www.defensenews.com
March 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
China demonstrated ‘satellite dogfighting,’ Space Force general says www.defensenews.com/space/2025/0...
China demonstrated ‘satellite dogfighting,’ Space Force general says
A Space Force spokesperson said the demonstration occurred in 2024 and involved five Chinese satellites.
www.defensenews.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by Rudy Ruitenberg
anderspucknielsen.dk
Hitting Russian oil facilities is a cornerstone in Ukraine’s strategy for winning the war. It’s not surprising that Putin is in favor of a limited ceasefire on those types of objects.
samagreene.bsky.social Sam Greene @samagreene.bsky.social · Mar 18
Reporting that Putin agreed to a 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure.

This is a delay tactic, designed to keep Trump at the table and extract pressure on Kyiv.

It is not a breakthrough.

meduza.io/news/2025/03...
Кремль: Путин поддержал 30-дневный отказ от ударов по энергетике Украины и «дал такую команду военным». Трамп настаивал на полном прекращении огня — Meduza
Владимир Путин поддержал идею президента США Дональда Трампа о взаимном отказе России и Украины от ударов по энергетической инфраструктуре в течение 30 дней и «дал такую команду военным», сообщил Крем...
meduza.io
March 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
Another massive year for MBDA, one of the companies key to a sovereign European defense. And picking up the pace in 2025. Last year's orders were €13.8b, +39% vs a yr earlier and +170% vs 2021.

Europe’s top missile maker MBDA boosts output 33% amid record orders www.defensenews.com/global/europ...
Europe’s top missile maker MBDA boosts output 33% amid record orders
MBDA is the only Western company besides American firms capable of producing “the full range of complex weapons,” the CEO said.
www.defensenews.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
rudyruitenberg.bsky.social
The RJ10 ramjet-powered cruise missile being developed by MBDA will cover the SEAD/DEAD mission for Europe, but may not be available before 2033 at the earliest.
March 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Rudy Ruitenberg
laukaya.bsky.social
We're hiring! Come join @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social, @jancienski.bsky.social and me to cover defense policy in NATO and Berlin.
jobs.mpleo.net/en/politico/...
jobs.mpleo.net/en/politico/...
Job Opportunities
jobs.mpleo.net
March 17, 2025 at 6:35 AM