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Greg Bagwell

@gregbagwell.bsky.social
628 followers 76 following 165 posts

Former Royal Air Force Pilot & Senior Commander & current President of the UK Air & Space Power Association. All views expressed are strictly in a personal capacity.

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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
A fascinating insider insight into the White House conduct of the EPIC FURY Campaign time.com/article/2026/0… “history also suggests there can be worse outcomes for a President who takes the nation to war than losing an election.” 🧵1/10
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Benjamin Tallis @bctallis.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
What can AI do for AirPower? How do we learn the right lessons from #Ukraine? How can we master technological change to deliver military advantage. Great to be on The High Ground podcast to get into all of this with @gregbagwell.bsky.social & @Sean Bell Listen in👇 open.spotify.com/episode/7r82...
open.spotify.com
Artificial Intelligence: Judgement Day?
Spotify video
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ClaireBFBS @clairesadler.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Who’d buy a ‘toned down’ version of America’s F-47? Hear what @gregbagwell.bsky.social has to say about it here on @forcesnews.com 👇 youtu.be/Pr_QJir48kY?...
youtu.be
Trumps says he'll sell 'toned-down' F-47 fighter jets to allies
YouTube video by BFBS Forces News
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
This has all the hallmarks of a Russian false flag operation.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
In 2001, NATO nations responded to a US call for an Article V response after an attack on US soil. There was no debate about where the attack took place, where the threat came from or who paid for what, just an agreement that an attack on one was an attack on all.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
As the frenzy around NATO spending dominates the defence debate, it’s worth noting whose budget has been reducing👇🇺🇸. And when you factor in how much US spending is outside the NATO area a very different picture emerges. We all need to spend more, but let’s be measured about it.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
“We're also here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.” A🧵on what this means if true 1/6. www.defense.gov/News/Speeche...
defense.gov
Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered opening remarks at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
My over-riding takeaway from this opening “pitch” is if Europe picks up the bill, then Europe gets a vote on the terms, and that vote should be to uphold international law, not appease a US President intent on getting “his” money back & peace on Russian terms. www.defense.gov/News/Speeche...
defense.gov
Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered opening remarks at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
If you were charged with saving Billions of dollars a day from the US federal budget, would you target the one department that barely makes the “Other” category at a world trailing 0.24% of GDP? It’s not about the money is it?
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
There will need to be boots on the ground to keep the peace, but there will also need to be eyes in the sky to watch over it.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
As the UK prepares its most challenging defence review in a generation. Here is an easy to read and digest summary of the current issues it faces in the air and space domains. And it’s free! airspacepower.com/wp-content/u...
airspacepower.com
UK Air and Space Power in a More Dangerous World - 10 Perspectives
The Air & Space Power Association
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
If and when a ceasefire starts, a sizeable peace keeping force may be inevitable and is the best chance of ensuring that Russia observes it. Using NATO nation’s troops adds complexity, but who else will step up?
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Mick Ryan @warinthefuture.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Another great report on drones in warfare, full of useful insights, from @rikefranke.bsky.social
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Commercial off the shelf drones have some physical limitations that differentiate them from more conventional forms of attack. The primary one is their speed. A commercial drone flies at a maximum speed of around 30m/s.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
As the New Year beckons and before people start talking about Fantasy Defence, here’s a quick reminder of the terms of reference for the UK defence review team👇. It is supposed to be fiscally constrained within the 2.5% envelope: www.gov.uk/government/p...
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
The primary cause of this accident is more likely to be the damage caused by the missile strike. The erratic flight profile after that was probably more down to the loss of primary control as a result of that damage, rather than any jamming - although that may yet prove to be a contributory factor.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Russia has had to deploy more air defence systems and employ GPS jamming more widely across Russia to counter Ukrainian UAV attacks. But in doing so without effective control or co-ordination it has endangered civil air traffic, as the shoot down two days ago demonstrated. This is a consequence.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
The Russian system that is rumoured to be the one responsible for the Azerbaijan Airlines shoot down is the Pantsir S1 (NATO name SA-22 Greyhound), a short range system with missiles and guns used to intercept aircraft and drones. It’s capable of operating independently. 🧵1/4
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
3 questions for Russia to answer 1. Were civil authorities aware of active air defence systems and GPS jamming around Grozny? 2. What safety measures did they have in place for civil aircraft to operate? 3. Why was the aircraft diverted so far away with an emergency? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Russia warns against 'hypotheses' in Azerbaijan Airlines crash
The Russia-bound passenger plane went down in Kazakhstan with the loss of 38 lives.
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Tim White @twmcltd.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
1/ God Trump is stupid It's taken me a long time but I've just finished wading through his press conference today when he answered questions on any subject, a little over a month before he returns to the White House. I edited all #Ukraine stuff into a 4'30" video on Xitter, but I'll show clips here
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Very pleased to partner with the New Scientist to promote the importance of Air & Space Power to the UK: “The power above us, why aerospace is a vital National asset”. www.businessandindustry.co.uk/aerospace/th...
businessandindustry.co.uk
The power above us: why aerospace is a vital national asset
The UK has a proud and strong heritage in the aerospace domain. It is one of our most valuable commodities, which generates and sustains both national growth and a highly skilled workforce in cutting-...
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Christian Thiels @christianthiels.eurosky.social · 11/12/2024
"The U.S. is pouring billions of dollars into protecting its Pacific stronghold of Guam from a Chinese onslaught. But the technical challenges are considerable, China’s weapons are growing more advanced." @reuters.com www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...
reuters.com
How the U.S. plans to fortify Guam against China’s missile threat
An interceptor test marked a milestone in the $10 billion American plan to turn the Pacific territory into one of the most heavily defended places on earth.
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NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 10/12/2024
🇺🇦 The Ukrainian Droid TW 12.7 robotic recon-strike complex is now officially in service, per the Ministry of Defense. Armed with a 12.7mm machine gun, it operates remotely via tablet & uses digital communication—proven reliable in combat tests.
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Robin Brooks @robin-j-brooks.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
There's a feeling of helplessness in the EU as Jan. 20 approaches. That's nonsense. The EU controls the single biggest exit point for Russian oil - the Baltic - and Greek ships are 25% of capacity. The EU has a lot of power, which gives it leverage over how war in Ukraine ends...
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
How could Donald Trump apply more pressure on Putin to capitulate in Ukraine, especially now after the loss of any footprint in Syria? There are basically 5 areas he can focus on: sanctions, warrants, military aid, alliances & territory. Taking each in turn:
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
We blinked in 2013, and we have blinked a few times since, not least in Ukraine. Whilst much should be made of the mistakes we have made in past interventions - we should be just as critical of the interventions we didn’t.
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 03/12/2024
“Following a pattern of undersea cable damage across European waters in the last year, with the most recent disruptions happening just weeks ago, top NATO officials have begun envisioning a capability that would allow the alliance to have permanent eyes above and under the waterline.”
defensenews.com
NATO draws up plans for its own fleet of naval surveillance drones
Officials envision fielding a network of drone-based sensors for keeping tabs on vital undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
I gave this opinion piece short shrift on X. So, let me be slightly more gentle in this much nicer place and highlight why these assertions are unfounded.
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NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 28/11/2024
Approximate flight routes of Russian missiles and drones during today's massive attack. As of now, 523,000 subscribers in Lviv region and 215,000 in Volyn are also without electricity due to morning strikes, – regional authorities confirm.
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Austin Ramzy @austinramzy.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Investigators suspect a Chinese bulk carrier deliberately severed two critical data cables last week as its anchor was dragged along the Baltic seabed for over 100 miles. Their probe now centers on whether the captain of the ship was induced by Russian intelligence. www.wsj.com/world/europe...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Chinese Ship’s Crew Suspected of Deliberately Dragging Anchor for 100 Miles to Cut Baltic Cables
NATO warships have surrounded Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier at the center of an international probe into suspected sabotage.
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Benjamin Tallis @bctallis.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Appalling. Alex Vindman is one of the bravest & most decent people I have met. We are with you Alex.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Elon Musk either failed his pilot selection or he just doesn’t like jet pilots. But, instead of drooling over Chinese drone stunt displays, maybe he should expend a bit more energy on fixing his two dimensional problem at taxy speeds.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Oi Elon, I’ve got 4000+ hours and I never landed in a tree.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
To be fair to Labour (because I still believe they want to reset Defence for the better), the previous Government only pledged to reach 2.5% by 2030 - so they may yet exceed that target/timeline - depending on the outcome of the major ongoing review. But, yes, 3% would be better!
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
This is a great read. Its chapter on the UK’s decline is painfully true.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
AI Generated vs Real Life
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
This reporting of the lack of a negative as a positive is misleading - it’s a well worn trick used by vested interests to try and corner governments prior to a defence review. The truth is that with finances extremely tight almost everything is on the table and almost nothing off it.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
A Boeing 737, operated for DHL by Swiftair from Leipzig, crashed on approach into Vilnius, Lithuania - my inner Tom Clancy antenna are twitching… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Lithuania plane crash: At least one dead and three injured near Vilnius - BBC News
The Boeing 737 crashed near a house as it was making its final approach for landing, local authorities say.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
I remember the good old days when Russia committed its own atrocities before it started contracting its evil out.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
A good summary of the factors surrounding the UK’s path to Defence spending at 2.5% of GDP. Not forgetting of course, it’s already at 2.33% so not so much jam tomorrow. lordslibrary.parliament.uk/uk-defence-s... [P.S Yes, I don’t know why there is an F15 on the front cover either]
lordslibrary.parliament.uk
UK defence spending: 2.5% of GDP target
NATO guidelines suggest each member state should spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. In line with pledges made by the previous Conservative administration, the Labour g...
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
The politicisation of military promotions achieves a few things - generals who tell you what you want to hear not what you need to know, and who care more about their political masters and their own progression than their soldiers or their country - both lead very quickly to a far weaker military.
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🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
⚡️🇺🇦Ukrainian Defense Forces hit a 🇷🇺Russian S-400 air defense system radar station in the Kursk region at night, the General Staff of Ukraine reports.
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
There is a huge lesson here in how we react to aggression. The slow drip response has allowed Putin to ratchet up his rhetoric and play for time or discord. Had we gone in hard and more determined from the outset we would have seized the initiative and removed Putin’s room for his mind games.
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Meanwhile in Ukraine @meanwhileua.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Yes, it is a striking cover. The threat of war in Europe feels disturbingly real. Timothy Snyder's book The Road to Unfreedom makes a powerful observation: "Europe has always lived in the shadow of its eastern neighbor". 👇
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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
NEW: The Houthis have become a major strategic threat with ties to multiple US adversaries. The US has sought to “avoid escalation” in response to Houthi actions since Oct 2023 with half-measures that have failed to materially degrade Houthi military capabilities. (🧵1/8)
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Michael Weiss @michaeldweiss.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Putin dismisses the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadows inside Russia as militarily ineffective while commenting on the "test" launch of a Russian IRBM at Dnipro. This follows a well-established pattern in this war, which I'll summarize below. kremlin.ru/events/presi...
kremlin.ru
Заявление Президента Российской Федерации
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Greg Bagwell @gregbagwell.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
There are quite a few UK defence commentators losing it over the recently announced defence “cuts”, and it’s overwhelmingly from the maritime side. There is something visceral about the UK maritime psyche, one that often seems founded on a sense of entitlement and history more than reality. 🧵1/n
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