Together with my colleague Dr Linus Terhorst I take a closer look at the inception of FCAS, the dynamics that appear to underpin the troubled political-industrial relationship, and the strategic alternatives for Germany.

'Berlin may give up on FCAS’s flagship pillar but alternatives that will deliver the capability the Luftwaffe needs and fulfil industrial hopes will be difficult to find', write Christoph Bergs and Dr Linus Terhorst in the latest RUSI Commentary.

I know @milavhis.bsky.social worked hard on this one. It's worth watching for a brief introduction to PLAAF's modernization over the last 30ish years. youtu.be/UUs3OpBDOAM?...

UCAVs/CCAs demonstrate promise but imagination must be tempered by operational analysis. In this short piece, I argue uncrewed systems should presently not be pursued as an immediate substitute for crewed fighters but developed as core combat air enablers. www.calibredefence.co.uk/luftwaffe-cc...

I imagine the data in my new documentary could surprise a few people. Opportunity cost of long-range fires versus traditional airpower in the context of WW2.👇

No background info if this was an ambush at known helicopter route or chance event. Window of opportunity is tiny even with proper positioning. External fuel tank seen mounted on left pylon: likely contributed to the Ka-52 fate. Impressive reaction times + control by FPV operator.

'Tactical losses to helicopters are therefore predominately symbolic of Russian strategic and operational failures' writes @milavhis.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Before this even started, there was no questioning of US military overmatch vs Venezuela. Details on resistance, US suppression of defences & helicopter operation would be interesting nevertheless. Permits evaluation of how indicative this was of US capabilities & its signalling value.

Footage from helicopters over Venezuela show what appear to be CH-47 Chinooks and MH-60 Black Hawks. Given available pictures, shapes are overall consistent with versions also flown by special operations units.

There simply is no other choice

After some delay, it is now confirmed that the decision whether to continue 🇫🇷🇩🇪FCAS or not is delayed. “Contrary to the original plan, a final decision on the continuation of the FCAS project has not yet been made at the end of the year.” www.hartpunkt.de/entscheidung...

Happening today 👇

IGMetall (🇩🇪 largest Union) announced they no longer trust/are willing to work with Dassault. Demand two separate NGFs. Given the intricacies of 🇩🇪 industry, IGMetall has significant linkages with companies. A soft launch for the a decision coming soon? www.hartpunkt.de/fcas-ig-meta...

That’s Sunday 1800/1900 UK/Continental Europe for those living in the civilised world and not…you know….Canada

Here's the German part of the discussion on four-engine bombers. I smile, nod, ask an occasional question, and then absolutely rock the outro while @milavhis.bsky.social lays the info down. youtu.be/dpNsIDn6KhE?...

Here's part 1 of a chat that Chris and I originally envisioned as a quick'n'easy one. Then we talked for an hour each. For my part, I used this common internet question as a Trojan horse of sorts to explore elements that aren't discussed as often as dry technical details of the aircraft themselves.

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers during World War 2 - Join a fascinating chat w/ @justinpykehistory.bsky.social on why Japan went hot & cold on long-range strategic bombers. youtu.be/nstaj1mHFHU

I really enjoyed this video @milavhis.bsky.social just put out on the complex discussion of air support during the Second World War. He focuses on the Luftwaffe, but some of what he covers gave me food for thought in my area of study too. youtu.be/7fxfp_xGfUg?...

How can military aircraft be used to gain influence in other nation-states? Piers Register spoke to @milavhis.bsky.social to examine a shift in the military aircraft export market & whether attitudes around aircraft supply & development need to change. Watch 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDVg...

Great to speak to NatGeo and bring my history airpower ramblings to the mainstream. Release 2026 alongside an excellent cast of experts.

If Spain is serious about investing 85% of defence spending (2%) into Europe, this will have left ~5bn for an F-35 deal and not much else. It leaves Spain without a fixed-wing carrier post Harrier retirement however and maybe a gap to other European partners until FCAS (if and when).

My chat with Jon and Seth over at the Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is now live! It was a lot of fun. I know a couple of the tangents ended up being a bit ramble-y. You'll have to forgive me there. youtu.be/ZLKHzhthUEE?...

Just published via RUSI... I suspect this one may generate some strong opinions but I think it's an important set of factors for military planners especially in the Land domain to engage with: NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’ www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

This 🧵👇 by @crusaderproject.bsky.social - The Ju 87 (as any plane of its approximate type) required a permissive air environment which can be limited in time and space. Screening fighters to punch a hole and maintain the window long enough for bomb drop, then covering retreat. That was the… 1/2

where is the ISD? WHERE is the ISD? WHERE IS THE ISD? 😡

Worthwhile to consider that during WW2, it is likely that most fighter pilots never saw the plane that “got them”. Beyond ground attackers and bombers, armour was an expensive feature that was balanced to offer the realistically achievable protection to pilot and vital systems, and nothing more.

Given the imminent release of a chat I had with Seth and Jon for the Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast, where one of the tangents was me rambling semi-coherently about aircraft protection, I've decided to update a thread I did on it related to Japanese aircraft from many years ago.

After recently posting my @rusi.bsky.social commentary on how high profile mishaps with F-35 could play a role in shaping public perception, it’s fascinating to see how the point I made is reflected in the comments…

An RAF F-35B stranded in Kerala has attracted attention just as the UK seeks to declare full operational capacity for the fleet. Read our latest RUSI Commentary from Christoph Bergs - @milavhis.bsky.social how such mishaps can be exploited to erode trust in the UK’s armed forces and equipment.

From yours sincerely, my first commentary at RUSI. And now I know how it feels like when I am not the one choosing the title 😅

Moments like this 🙌 What a show by Frecce Tricolori 🇮🇹

Never gets old

Excellent summary of the FAF in 1940 by @milavhis.bsky.social citing some recent research. #aviationhistory #avgeeks www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsXU...

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.” It costs a lot less to house people.

Don’t tell Trent.

If you missed @milavhis.bsky.social's The Luftwaffe at War series, part 2, about the reasoning behind the heavy fighter and the Me110, it is out now and it is fascinating. The series so far is well worth your time. youtu.be/nnhdvw37hC4?...

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 is considered a blunder but why did the Luftwaffe want heavy fighters (Zerstörer) in the first place? Join me as I explore the early Luftwaffe history to answer this question 👇 youtu.be/nnhdvw37hC4

Great to catch up on Eurofighter and get some viewer questions answered straight from the source 🔥

Dassault line up at Paris Air Show. A bit of posturing, to put it lightly ?

German Luftwaffe Eurofighter at Paris Air Show was fun to watch. BamBam put on a show!

Ever wondered what would happen if a French company from the 1930s designed a drone? Now we have the answer:

Smile and wave, bois. Smile and wave.

🚨ALARM! Kickstarting my new series on the Luftwaffe with the obvious question: Did the Luftwaffe revolutionize airpower? What is often seen as part of the "Blitzkrieg" Legend is a complex and simple approach to airpower that has little to do with its popular image. Watch it 👇 youtu.be/ho5xKay0aOQ

Great to return with the @I_W_M talking about the role of airpower during the Battle of France. I discuss the Luftwaffe's approach to airpower, the differences to the Allies and chat about Sedan, Dunkirk and Operation Paula. Really well produced by IWM! 👇

Up to 20k people to be evacuated in Cologne after three WW2 bombs were found. Normal Tuesday in Germany then. www.faz.net/aktuell/gese...

Zelensky: "One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution" www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg... From the pictures and videos, impressive stuff by 🇺🇦. Hope that this adds to the urgency within NATO to take base C-UAV serious.

I'll add a few additional thoughts on the subject from Alan Zimm here that we didn't get to in the video. As I note, Zimm goes into great detail on weapon-target pairings in a hypothetical third wave. There simply wasn't enough ordinance to do everything. It's not a realistic critique.

Did Japan blunder at Pearl Harbor by not sending a 3rd Wave and destroying US Oil reserves? Joining us is historian and Pacific War expert Jonathan Parshall and we discuss why things are different than often seen (esp. on Tora! Tora! Tora!): youtu.be/V-pp2Rk59Yg

Was a pleasure to work with the IWM to discuss one of the great air rivalries: MiG-21 vs F-4 Phantom II. Why were N-Vietnamese MiGs so effective & how did America adapt with changes to training (no, not just TopGun!), technology & operational procedures? Find out here 📺👇 youtu.be/wUOYbPPG7fw