Sign in

Ulrike Franke

@rikefranke.bsky.social
51K followers 2.3K following 7.2K posts

Senior Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations. #Drone politics PhD @ox.ac.uk. Teaches at @SciencesPo.bsky.social. Writes about all things #Germany #Defence #miltech. Podcast host at @SicherheitsPod.de & LeCollimateur

PostsRepliesMedia
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 37m
I think that’s a good point. If this is ever gonna happen, it will be new, not a return to what was before (for better or worse).
0150
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 39m
In case you had any doubts. New addition to my office wall.
7774
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 1h
Germany invests in a new military harbour “The new naval base is set to provide berths for seven frigates, ten minesweepers and ten tugs. It is expected that a four-figure number of military personnel and civilian staff will be based there.” www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
faz.net
Bundeswehr will wohl neuen Marinehafen in Emden bauen
Die Marine möchte Medien zufolge bis sieben Fregatten in dem neuen Hafen stationieren. Auch ein anderer Hafen soll mehr als eine Milliarde Euro bekommen.
05910
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Austria’s government wants to give operators of critical infrastructure licenses to defend against suspicious drones.
heise.de
Licenses for shooting down drones for Austrian companies
If suspicious drones approach critical infrastructure, their operators are to bring the drones down. Licenses for this are planned in Austria.
39020
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 23h
“Estonian authorities have confirmed that the 15 August arson attack against the Estonian defence company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian security services.” www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
theguardian.com
Estonia says arson attack on ‘consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia’ - Europe live
Foreign minister summons Russia’s chargé d’affaires over attack on Milrem Robotics as security agency says incident was ‘deliberate and pre-planned’
518371
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 20h
Looks like I am one trip short of getting a Eurostar Carte Blanche and this may be my most first world problem ever. 😭 (Anyone who wants to invite me to London in the next 2 days?!)
2420
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
NZZ @nzz.ch · 20h
Der Bundesrat muss entscheiden, ob er ein zweites Abwehrsystem grösserer Reichweite beschaffen will.So oder so funktioniert der Kampf gegen ballistischen Raketen und Hyperschallwaffennur im Verbund mit den militärischen Partnern.
nzz.ch
Wie sicher ist die Schweiz? Bundesrat prüft zweites Abwehrsystem
161
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Today, in Russian propaganda:
Schaeffer Marlyse. @Schaef... • 6h
S
• Translated from French Show original
I am a French mother with beautiful children.
I did not give birth to them for them to be sent to the trenches.
French and Russian mothers do not want their children to fight against each other.
We are not enemies.
#RuslandIsNotMyEnemyEls van Veen O
Follow
@veen_els
I'm a Dutch mother with beautiful sons. I did not give birth to my children to be sent into the trenches. Dutch and Russian mums don't want their boys fighting each other. We are not enemies. #RuslandIsNotMyEnemyNadja @EuropaNormal • 9h
• Translated from German Show original
I am a German mother with a beautiful son. I didn't give birth to my child to send him into the trenches. German and Russian mothers do not want their boys to fight against each other. We are not enemies.
#RuslandIsNotMyEnemyDday @DdayohneZiffern • 12h
I'm a German mother with beautiful sons. I did not give birth to my children to be sent into the trenches. German and Russian mums don't want their boys fighting each other. We are not enemies.
#RuslandIsNotMyEnemy
47937336
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 22h
Russia has one enormous strategic advantage of which it is taking advantage. It can daily attack civilian targets--hospitals, universities, markets--knowing that while Ukraine can do the same, the Ukrainians are too humane to do so.
25480194
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 23h
I don’t claim to understand the financial market but reading about a loss-making company that warns its product might wipe out humanity does not motivate me to buy their shares.
1523547
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I know there is a hell of a lot going on right now. But not all of it is bad. Some is astonishingly good - like the results of this study from June. Cervical cancer is a terribly cruel thing. This might, at long last, be the beginning of the end of it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News headline "Young women now have 'close to zero' risk of cervical cancer death after HPV jab"
15656801573
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 23h
“Estonian authorities have confirmed that the 15 August arson attack against the Estonian defence company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian security services.” www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
theguardian.com
Estonia says arson attack on ‘consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia’ - Europe live
Foreign minister summons Russia’s chargé d’affaires over attack on Milrem Robotics as security agency says incident was ‘deliberate and pre-planned’
518371
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Wow. Check out the European numbers on favourable views of the US versus favourable views of China….
Screenshot showing poll of how 36 countries see the US and China. Large majority has a more favourable view of China than the US including most European contries
1317860
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 29/09/2026
I always enjoy, and recommend, reading @josephdeweck.bsky.social . But on this one… I guess he has more trust in the people than I do. He makes a good argument but I’m not gonna advocate for more referenda in Europe any time soon. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Switzerland’s love of referendums keeps the far right at bay | Joseph de Weck
Brexit gave direct democracy a bad name. But the Swiss approach could be what Europe needs now, says Guardian Europe contributor Joseph de Weck
8526
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Wow. Check out the European numbers on favourable views of the US versus favourable views of China….
Screenshot showing poll of how 36 countries see the US and China. Large majority has a more favourable view of China than the US including most European contries
1317860
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Austria’s government wants to give operators of critical infrastructure licenses to defend against suspicious drones.
heise.de
Licenses for shooting down drones for Austrian companies
If suspicious drones approach critical infrastructure, their operators are to bring the drones down. Licenses for this are planned in Austria.
39020
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
I worry that we are going absolutely crazy. A CDU politician (the eccentric type, often target of malice) has put a typical north/baltic sea beach chairs on his office balcony (he’s from the region). And somehow people lost it?? He had to send it back?? (He paid for it himself) What on earth?
tagesspiegel.de
Er wollte nur „ein Stück Heimat“ – und erntete Spott: Amthor will Strandkorb selbst bezahlt haben und schickt ihn zurück
Philipp Amthor hat sich einen Strandkorb auf den Balkon des Kanzleramts stellen lassen. Im Netz bekam er dafür viel Häme. Der Verkäufer des maritimen Möbelstücks nimmt den CDU-Politiker in Schutz.
2316916
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Reinhard Mey made me love the German language, taught me about politics, and wrote the song which I sing to my kids every night since they were born. Looking forward to listening to the new album.
spiegel.de
(S+) Reinhard Mey hat ein neues Album veröffentlicht. Was kann er uns noch über Deutschland erzählen?
Was hat uns Reinhard Mey, 83, noch zu sagen? Die Frage ist berechtigt, aber schlecht gestellt. Erstens sollte die Angabe des Alters sofort gestrichen werden, und das nicht nur aus Gründen der Galanter...
5768
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Prof. Sam Lawler @sundogplanets.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/09/2026
I am honestly losing track of what's what here, because SpaceX has so fucking many stupid ideas waiting for FCC approval right now. The comment period is currently open for SpaceX's "Gen3" Starlink satellites, where they want to have 100,000 more Starlink satellites in extremely low orbits. If […]
mastodon.social
Original post on mastodon.social
12018
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Stephane Siohan @stefsiohan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A drone strike in the centre of #Kyiv at 2pm destroyed the National Academy of Sciences of #Ukraine, 100 meters from the German Embassy and 200 meters from the National Opera House and the city’s main university. The strike was likely aimed at an internet service provider. At least 1 dead.
14836
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Reinhard Mey made me love the German language, taught me about politics, and wrote the song which I sing to my kids every night since they were born. Looking forward to listening to the new album.
spiegel.de
(S+) Reinhard Mey hat ein neues Album veröffentlicht. Was kann er uns noch über Deutschland erzählen?
Was hat uns Reinhard Mey, 83, noch zu sagen? Die Frage ist berechtigt, aber schlecht gestellt. Erstens sollte die Angabe des Alters sofort gestrichen werden, und das nicht nur aus Gründen der Galanter...
5768
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 28/09/2026
(my Everyone Hated This take is that given the polls especially for the second round, Mélenchon should do the right thing and step aside so someone from the centre left actually has a chance to win if facing Le Pen but well, maybe I could also marry Rihanna next)
71702
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Found a really stupid mistake in my PhD thesis. 😭 (How did I not realise when rereading and editing that this WWII drone system I wrote about did not, in fact, have a wing span of 7cm?!!! 🫣)
9671
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 28/09/2026
Europe is stepping up massively on defence. Today, we are moving forward with five major joint projects: drones, air defence, space, maritime security and our Eastern Flank. Five areas that are crucial to European security. And where we need to move fast.
35547110
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Norway and Sweden work together on the combination of land robots and aerial drones www.hartpunkt.de/drohnenkrieg...
hartpunkt.de
Drohnenkriegsführung – Norwegen und Schweden erproben Systemverbund aus luft- und bodengestützten Drohnen
Norwegen und Schweden haben gemeinsam den Einsatz unbemannter Bodenfahrzeuge im Verbund mit Drohnen in der Luft erprobt.
1829
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Good research on the German contracts with the US on F35 and other very costly equipment. All risk with the buyer, all rights with the seller. 🎁🔗 www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2...
zeit.de
Abhängigkeit von den USA: Trumps geheime Knebelverträge
Die Bundesregierung will bei der Rüstung souveräner werden. Ein exklusiver Einblick in vertrauliche Akten zeigt jedoch: Die Abhängigkeit von den USA nimmt zu.
1213445
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Melissa Johnson, PhD @ladyhistorian.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I am tired of having to pretend that the value of studying my discipline solely rests on the "marketable skills" we teach. Sometimes things are just worth knowing and doing because they make your life bigger and richer.
131213247
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Drones airdropping UGVs, the latest development in Ukraine’s defence, and current counter-offensive. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
telegraph.co.uk
Revealed: Secret robot offensive that ‘killed 3,000 Russians’
Carrier drones deploy explosive unmanned vehicles behind enemy lines, recovering 48 square miles of occupied Ukraine
210221
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
The Israeli military is preparing the inauguration of a fourth branch of the military: “unmanned systems and artificial intelligence”
timesofisrael.com
Zamir says IDF to open new ‘unmanned systems and AI’ branch by December
Military chief says branch to be tasked with 'rapidly developing field' of drones and AI, vows that Israel will be 'global leader' in field
46821
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Mhmh. I mean, good, but the problem isn’t really coordination but answers, which remain sparse. “EU defence ministers will gather to discuss a proposal from the Commission to create a new Emergency Security Protocol …, to co-ordinate effective responses.”
giftarticle.ft.com
EU countries consider Nato-style joint responses to Russian hybrid attacks
Campaign this year has included drone attacks, bombs and arson, leading to calls for a stronger response
27713
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
The Israeli military is preparing the inauguration of a fourth branch of the military: “unmanned systems and artificial intelligence”
timesofisrael.com
Zamir says IDF to open new ‘unmanned systems and AI’ branch by December
Military chief says branch to be tasked with 'rapidly developing field' of drones and AI, vows that Israel will be 'global leader' in field
46821
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Report about Ukraine’s efforts to find answers to the jet-powered Geran drones. Let’s hope they are indeed as advanced as suggested here www.tagesschau.de/ausland/euro...
tagesschau.de
Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine: Wettlauf der schnellen Drohnen
Gelingt es der Ukraine, den russischen Vorsprung bei schnellen, mit Jetantrieb ausgestatteten Drohnen aufzuholen? Die Antwort entscheidet über Leben und Tod vieler Menschen. Von Kai Küstner und Stefan...
414018
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Recommended
0558
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Drones airdropping UGVs, the latest development in Ukraine’s defence, and current counter-offensive. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
telegraph.co.uk
Revealed: Secret robot offensive that ‘killed 3,000 Russians’
Carrier drones deploy explosive unmanned vehicles behind enemy lines, recovering 48 square miles of occupied Ukraine
210221
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Lest we forget about you, North Korea. www.wsj.com/world/north-...
wsj.com
North Korea Is Testing Swarm Attacks Mixing Drones and Missiles
Kim Jong Un’s regime is incorporating tactics which are proving successful against Western air defenses in Europe and the Middle East.
17215
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
“participants emphasized in a statement that the tests proved that a diverse array of drone-detecting sensors are needed to stop threats before they strike” Good that this is being tested www.forbes.com/sites/zitaba...
forbes.com
U.S. Army Puts Defenses To A ‘Stress Test’ Using Massive Drone Swarms
Swarms of up to 100 drones plus a mothership challenged attack helicopters and sensors at detecting and stopping them during a recent large-scale exercise at Fort Bragg.
1337
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 27/09/2026
Swiss referendum on further strengthening neutrality fails even more spectacularly than anticipated. Looks like some 70% voted against.
nzz.ch
Schweizer lehnen starrere Neutralität ab – Rückenwind für den Bundesrat
Das Stimmvolk lehnt die Neutralitätsinitiative mit über 70 Prozent ab. Damit behält die Landesregierung in schwierigen Zeiten den nötigen Spielraum.
315036
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
“In 2022, we launched the Army of Drones. Back then, few people could imagine just how profoundly unmanned systems would change warfare. Today, drones account for more than 95% of strikes […] But technological warfare does not stand still. We need the next breakthrough.”
1667
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
In case you needed to be worried more. danwatch.dk/en/military-...
danwatch.dk
Military documents reveal how Russia has reactivated a top-secret doomsday system
Danwatch has reviewed millions of military procurement documents and can, for the first time, reveal how the Russian military has secretly carried out a vast co
1014552
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
brianmoore2.bsky.social @brianmoore2.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
We must never let him forget this
4504122
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
In case you needed to be worried more. danwatch.dk/en/military-...
danwatch.dk
Military documents reveal how Russia has reactivated a top-secret doomsday system
Danwatch has reviewed millions of military procurement documents and can, for the first time, reveal how the Russian military has secretly carried out a vast co
1014552
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
Mikhail Fedorov, until recently Ukraine’s defence minister launches “The Army of Robots”. This is the promo video. In his LinkedIn post he writes “Make robots fight instead of people.”
1110325
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Ronen Steinke @ronensteinke.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Ich empfehle sehr, den Essay von @dnah.bsky.social in der taz zu lesen. taz.de/Antisemitism...
16601190
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
Mikhail Fedorov, until recently Ukraine’s defence minister launches “The Army of Robots”. This is the promo video. In his LinkedIn post he writes “Make robots fight instead of people.”
1110325
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
I love this @xkcd.com comic. So accurate.
381318193
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
😂😳😅 Omg, am going through old screenshots as I am looking for something and it turns out that back in 2022, Liz Truss (?!!!) followed me on Twitter!! 😂 Not quite sure what to do with this information.
8942
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
😅
631353
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Nico Lange @nicolange.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Bis zur nächsten regulären Bundestagswahl sind es noch 2 Jahre und 6 Monate. Statt sich zu Tode zu taktieren oder so zu tun, als hätte die AfD eine Mehrheit oder über Minderheitsregierung zu fantasieren, sollten Regierung und Mehrheit bitte regieren und entscheiden.
1131454
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
Changed my profile pic (sorry, I hate it when people do that, but it was time).
4760
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 26/09/2026
Example why @zeit.de is one of, if not the best German newspaper. Both articles - one arguing in favour one against having Die Linke lead a government in Berlin - are very good. They trust their readers to make up their own mind. epaper.zeit.de/article/49cd...
epaper.zeit.de
Die Linke – zu radikal zum Regieren?
7778