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Richard Thomas

@RWJThomas

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Lead editor on GlobalData's defence desk covering conflict and the business of military procurement. Published on Army/Naval/Airforce Technology news sites.

London
Joined April 2015
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
29 days
What a year of #defence news coverage from the team. Here's our Top 10 from the past 12 months. https://t.co/mWUZqoK1jz
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
2 months
Rafale, Gripen, F-16s. If all delivered, Ukraine's future fighter force will be an eclectic mix of Western fourth-generation combat aircraft. https://t.co/mOnG1SfBcw
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airforce-technology.com
Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to acquire Rafale fighters from France, weeks after signing a similar deal with Sweden for the Gripen.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
2 months
GlobalData's James Marques has appeared on CNBC to provide insight into growing US demand for explosives. #Defence https://t.co/nXQ1nQrczg
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army-technology.com
GlobalData aerospace and defence analyst James Marques has provided insight into TNT demands in the United States.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
2 months
Worth keeping in mind from where the majority of steel used for UK warship manufacturing is sourced.
@DefenceHQ
Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧
2 months
From cutting steel to launching vessels, British shipyards are building the fleet the @RoyalNavy needs. 🇬🇧 We're backing our shipyards with real investment and creating good jobs. This is what it looks like 👇
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
2 months
Queries as to whether Britain is a 'rising power' would be hilarious, if they were not so critical. There are multiple countries whose contemporary military capabilities have either/both qualitative and quantitative superiority, many of them now post-peer rivals.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
3 months
Army Technology has gained exclusive insight into Ukraine's unique defence procurement structure. https://t.co/S9A2YYoKHG
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army-technology.com
Operational realities have meant that Ukraine has needed to change how brigades are able to obtain critical defence equipment.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
3 months
The GCC fighter market is front and centre for issue 155 of Global Defence Technology, while we also dig into autonomy, Nato's air policing presence in Estonia, and a whole lot more. All free to view. #Defence #AutonomousVehicles #NATO #Military https://t.co/hm7urvhdXw
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
5 months
The Israeli MoD has accused the UK government of "discrimination" amid a growing row over attendance at the DSEI defence event. #DSEI2025 #DSEI https://t.co/LOJzyE96SU
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army-technology.com
Israeli's Ministry of Defence has responded strongly to an apparent banning of its officials from attending the upcoming DSEI defence event.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
5 months
Might the UK's initial contribution to KFOR be a model for any future commitment to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine? https://t.co/0nFJBAbz5p
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army-technology.com
It is unlikely the British Army would be able to sustain anything other than a light role force in any UK peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
5 months
Further analysis into the collision between a PLAN Type 052D DDG and CCG vessel, itself a former PLAN Type 056 corvette. https://t.co/mYdQDNputh
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naval-technology.com
Two Chinese warships appear to have collided while attempting to ram a Philippine Coast Guard vessel operating in the South China Sea.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
5 months
The UK MoD is hiring for three Spain-based roles intended to monitor the Fleet Solid Support ship programme. https://t.co/qQU7DL1oGb
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naval-technology.com
Spanish state-owned shipyard Navantia is leading the construction efforts to build three Fleet Solid Support ships for the UK.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
6 months
As Russia shifts its position on intermediate-range ballistic missiles, we've taken a look at the country's nuclear warhead stocks and multiple delivery methods. https://t.co/42IIKBQy4I
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army-technology.com
Russia has sought to free itself from intermediate-ranged ballistic missile restrictions, causing consternation in the West.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
6 months
There is so much wrong with UK defence it's difficult to know where to start, but engaging SMEs could offer (relatively) quick wins. Then again, this is the UK we're talking about. https://t.co/kdWUtIuUcR
army-technology.com
It is unclear if defence can change the UK's economic fortunes, with the country's finances teetering on the brink.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
6 months
On the positive side, future tours by foreign officials of the UK's naval base in Manama will be more streamlined. Almost literally, 'nothing to see here'. https://t.co/tLURaUsE5t
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naval-technology.com
UK claims in being a reliable partner to US aspirations in the Middle East hollow as it continues to retreat from the world.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
6 months
Shortages in personnel, reduced flight hours, delayed deliveries and upgrades, escalating costs, and sub-par mission capable rates - the UK's F-35 programme in detail. https://t.co/pQLgdHjf6v
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airforce-technology.com
A report by the National Audit Office has laid bare the flaws in the UK's ongoing F-35 fighter acquisition programme.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
7 months
A carrier-based coincidence as UK and China flattops visit former British colonies within days of each other. https://t.co/ohlvMA0BlG
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naval-technology.com
The UK and China have both sought to leverage carrier power projection in recent days, visiting former UK colonies.
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@RWJThomas
Richard Thomas
7 months
Do you think the UK will be able to build the number of new SSNs at the pace it wants to? Or is it fantasy? https://t.co/HDlUkrHNno
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naval-technology.com
The UK government has expressed aspirations to build 12 new attack submarines at a pace of one boat every 18 months.
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