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Matthew Palmer

@so3brocktree.bsky.social

1.1K followers 700 following 1.1K posts

🇬🇧 Former soldier. Accidental journalist. Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy and RNSSC. Thoughts & feelings on defence and other things. Not always serious. Views my own. Longer thoughts & feelings on substack: https://crackingdefence.substack.com/

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · Aug 6

Very chuffed to announce that I am now a Fellow of the @congeostrategy.bsky.social!

I'll be writing predominantly on grey-zone threats and joint operations for the Council, while continuing my work on Substack and for the RNSSC.

Please do get in contact if you are interested in any of the above!

Council on Geostrategy @congeostrategy.bsky.social · Aug 6

We are pleased to announce that @so3brocktree.bsky.social is joining us as the Sir John Moore Adjunct Fellow in Military Affairs!

🔗 Read the full announcement: bit.ly/4mtunwr

🚨 Dive straight into Matthew’s analysis on sub-threshold threats: bit.ly/3UgIE3t

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 27m

Finally!

UK appoints weapons chief to fix wasteful defence spending

Rupert Pearce’s appointment comes as government seeks to deliver pledge to drive growth through increased military spending

www.ft.com

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 2d

It is indeed unpleasant.

However, on a brighter note greater Danish force presence in the arctic is a net positive.

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 2d

Mostly my reasoning as well. Still, large weapon purchases are extremely political; one might argue that updated 4th gen fighters would still fill the required role without giving more money and influence to the US.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 2d

Danes very much not fucking around.

Interesting choice to double-down on the F-35; I imagine that will be unpopular in many circles, especially following the US administration's actions over Greenland.

Denmark to spend $8.7bn on F-35 jets and bolstering Arctic security

Copenhagen faces up to Russian threat on Nato’s eastern flank and US pressure on Greenland with big defence deals

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 3d

COMMENTARY: Between January and April of this year, an astounding quarter of all flights in the eastern Baltic Sea region experienced GPS disturbances.

And the fact that these incidents haven’t resulted in any aviation disasters so far is thanks to pilot skill.

Russia’s GPS interference is the new normal

Half a dozen countries are experiencing an extraordinary surge in GPS disturbances. But collectively, we can blunt the harm of these dangerous tactics.

ow.ly

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 3d

This matches exactly what I heard from every company at DSEI.

Companies won't build anything unless you pay them, funnily enough.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 4d

Defence companies sound warning to the UK on.ft.com/3KERCpM | opinion

Defence companies sound warning to the UK

Executives say pace of spending needs to pick up to match promises to make country battle-ready

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Armida van Rij @armida.bsky.social · 4d

Welcome Charles Grant @cergrant.bsky.social to Bsky! This means the whole @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social research team is here - make sure to follow for their excellent analysis.

@cerianbond.bsky.social
@elisabettaco.bsky.social
@zecsaky.bsky.social
@sandertordoir.bsky.social
@aslak.bsky.social

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 5d

The UK government's inability to have any serious China policy continues.

"Notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security"

....🫠

Spy case collapse blamed on failure to label China a threat

Prosecutors say they were unable to obtain evidence from the government to meet the threshold for prosecution.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 6d

THE SECRET PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS IS FINALLY LIVE

CHECK IT OUT

outsidersartsclub.com

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 5d

Spy case collapse blamed on failure to label China a threat

Prosecutors say they were unable to obtain evidence from the government to meet the threshold for prosecution.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 5d

The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 5d

Very cool!

Physics Nobel: Three win prize for paving way for very powerful computers

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.

www.bbc.co.uk

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 7d

Finally!

UK Defence Journal @ukdefencejournal.org.uk · 7d

The missile can now be deployed on front-line duties with Wildcat helicopters, enhancing the Fleet Air Arm’s striking power.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-d...

Royal Navy declares Sea Venom missile ready for use

The missile can now be deployed on front-line duties with Wildcat helicopters, enhancing the Fleet Air Arm’s striking power.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Reposted by Matthew Palmer

German Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 10d

“This morning, Germany is one nation again.”

This is how BBC Breakfast News reported on German reunification, 35 years ago today.

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 12d

Let's all gloat a bit at Putin's expense, shall we?

Putin is not having a good week

Moldova, Bosnia, and Ukraine

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

alina @ramshackle78.bsky.social · 12d

Ukraine already has access to SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) via the ICEYE platform since 2022 and this can be expanded.
www.iceye.com/newsroom/pre...

For more on ICEYE, @so3brocktree.bsky.social spoke to them at DSEI 2025

crackingdefence.substack.com/p/eyes-in-th...

Eyes in the Sky

ICEYE and sovereign European spacepower

crackingdefence.substack.com

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Sebastian Bae @sebastianbae.bsky.social · 12d

Just a few more sets before the upgrade kits of LCIP 2nd Edition get fully funded! Trust me, you want to grab one if you have a copy of the first edition. Just trust me on this.
dietzfoundation.org/product/litt...

Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific (UPGRADE KIT)

We've sold a bunch of Littoral Commanders over the past three years--and that support has let the Foundation do HUGE things including the expansion of the LC line of products. Indo-Pac is getting revi...

dietzfoundation.org

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · 12d

(solemnly) You've had mail.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 12d

Let's all gloat a bit at Putin's expense, shall we?

Putin is not having a good week

Moldova, Bosnia, and Ukraine

crackingdefence.substack.com

1 6 27

Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 12d

Naval warfare was ruined when aircraft and missiles became a thing and spoilt all the fun of firing big fuck-off guns from floating castles.

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

Justin Bronk @justin-br0nk.bsky.social · 13d

And there it is… Ukraine will receive JAS-39 Gripen! Better late than never, I guess. The fighter that was always by far the closest fit to the Ukrainian Air Force’s operational needs is at long last officially on its way (timeline TBC for obvious reasons).

unn.ua/en/amp/minis...

Ministry of Defense announced the transfer of Swedish Gripen fighters to Ukraine | УНН

УНН News of the World ✎ Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk stated that Ukraine expects the supply of Swedish Gripen, French Mirage, and additional F-16s.

unn.ua

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Reposted by Matthew Palmer

spherical-cow.bsky.social @spherical-cow.bsky.social · 12d

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 12d

Naval warfare was ruined when aircraft and missiles became a thing and spoilt all the fun of firing big fuck-off guns from floating castles.

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Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 13d

Back to university and about to open the first book of the year! Absolutely buzzing - so good to be back in an nerdy intellectual environment 🤓📖

Matthew Palmer @so3brocktree.bsky.social · 14d

Fantastic result.

Anca B. @anca-b.bsky.social · 14d

PAS🇪🇺 won 55 seats in the Moldovan parliament, so it will be able to govern without having to make compromises with the pro-Russians.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

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