🇩🇪🚨 My commentary on why "affordable mass" is an unrealistic approach to CCAs is now available in German via Hardpunkt. www.hartpunkt.de/erschwinglic...

„Erschwingliche Masse“ ist unrealistisch: Neukonzeption und Realisierung von Masse mit Collaborative Combat Aircraft

„Erschwingliche Masse“ ist ein unpassender Rahmen, um unbemannte Kampfflugzeuge zu beschreiben. System- und Bewaffnungskosten unterminieren die gängige Argumentation, wonach der massenhafte Einsatz un...

hartpunkt.de

Christoph Bergs@milavhis.bsky.social · 3w ago

📖🚨CCAs are often mentioned in tandem with "affordable mass" - an unrealistic expectation as I explain below.👇 www.calibredefence.co.uk/affordable-m...

📖🚨CCAs are often mentioned in tandem with "affordable mass" - an unrealistic expectation as I explain below.👇 www.calibredefence.co.uk/affordable-m...

A must watch 👇 @justinpykehistory.bsky.social worked incredibly hard on this and it has become fascinating account of how and why one of the first bombings of a city transpired, touching upon politics, service culture, air power and the personal aspirations of those involved.

Justin Pyke@justinpykehistory.bsky.social · 4w ago

My next video for @milavhis.bsky.social is finally live! The 1931 bombing of Jinzhou is an obscure but interesting episode - a rogue Kwantung Army officer, improvised bombing methods, captured Chinese aircraft, and one of the first bombings of a city since the end of WWI. youtu.be/m_9ALx9C_0I?...

Home Guard, the German way.

My video debut for @rusi.bsky.social with a few thoughts on the current CCA hype

RUSI@rusi.bsky.social · last mo.

In this video commentary, Christoph Bergs examines the implications of the announcement that the UK has stated and placed budgets behind a Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept and the unveiling of BAE Systems' Brontonax – the UK's first CCA. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/4byM22Q

You can take the gun out of the helicopter… …but you can’t take the helicopter out of the gun.

NOELREPORTS@noelreports.com · 2mo ago

State of the Russian army. Footage shows a Russian mobile fire group training exercise ending in a mishap while using a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun. #Russia

Summarises, albeit in a dramatic fashion, my thoughts on AI in education. Those universities increasingly submitting AI are doing a disservice to their students.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3mo ago

Dave Eggers: ‘Once you have a machine think and write for you, you’re cooked as a species’

I am not saying that the worst part of the FCAS breakup is the ai-generated slop from professional Linkedin-ers we will see over the next few days… …but I am also not not saying it.

With news that the 6th Gen Franco-German fighter in FCAS has come to an end, how realistic are Germany’s alternatives? I explored this recently w/ Linus Terhorst at @rusi.bsky.social www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

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.

RUSI@rusi.bsky.social · 4mo ago

'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.

'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.

FCAS: France and Germany’s Fight for a Future Fighter

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.

bit.ly

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?...

China’s Air Force: Almost Ready For The Taiwan Scenario?

YouTube video by Military Aviation History

youtu.be

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.👇

Justin Pyke@justinpykehistory.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Check out @milavhis.bsky.social's new video on the V-1 and V-2! Come for the data, stay for Tom Lehrer. youtu.be/0DMNRtGRYP0?...

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.

NOELREPORTS@noelreports.com · 6mo ago

WATCH: FPV footage of the moment a Russian Ka-52 was downed near Nadiivka, Donetsk region, and eliminated the crew after a crash landing. Additional drones struck during the evacuation attempt. #Ukraine

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

Helicopters Remain a Vital Part of the Joint-Force

The helicopter has been criticised following extraordinary Russian losses in Ukraine, however the benefits of vertical lift are still obvious within the force mix.

rusi.org

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.

Christoph Bergs@milavhis.bsky.social · 8mo ago

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.

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

The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by TheBugglesVEVO

youtu.be

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 8mo ago

MTV is officially ending all of its music channels. In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?

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...

Entscheidung zum weiteren Vorgehen bei FCAS auf unbestimmte Zeit verschoben

Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius hatte angekündigt, bis Jahresende eine Lösung bei dem ins Schlingern geratenen Rüstungsprojekt für ein Future Combat Air System (FCAS) finden zu wollen.

hartpunkt.de

Happening today 👇

Justin Pyke@justinpykehistory.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Chris and I have settled on Sunday, December 21 @ 6pm GMT / 11am MT. The stream will be on YouTube, as usual. (Let's see if the third attempt at this doesn't have a typo in it...)

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...

FCAS: IG Metall bricht mit Dassault und will zwei Kampfjets

Wenige Tage vor der in der kommenden Woche erwarteten Entscheidung zum weiteren Vorgehen beim kriselnden französisch-deutsch-spanischen Future Combat Air

hartpunkt.de

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

Justin Pyke@justinpykehistory.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Just a heads up that @milavhis.bsky.social and I plan on streaming this Sunday at 11AM-ish MT.

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?...

Why Luftwaffe Strategic Bombers Never Happened

YouTube video by Military Aviation History

youtu.be

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.

Christoph Bergs@milavhis.bsky.social · last yr.

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

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

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers

YouTube video by Military Aviation History

youtu.be

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?...

The Complicated Luftwaffe Air Support Problem

YouTube video by Military Aviation History

youtu.be

Justin Pyke@justinpykehistory.bsky.social · last yr.

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.