Tim Fish

Defence journalist/analyst and global traveller. Former Land/C4ISR editor at Shephard Media and maritime reporter at Jane's.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@Kilted_Sailor @thinkdefence It has not even been two years yet. They have tripped themselves up a bit and it'll take time to see if they can turn things around. At least they are trying to go in the right direction. Sadly as predicted they are not being radical enough. Still too early to tell. Will see...

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@AlexLuck9 They must have sold it to BAAINBw somehow. Otherwise there are plenty of other European shipyards that can build high end frigates!

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@FTusa284 @Babcockplc @FT @DSEI_event @DefenceHQ That the UK is becoming a Naval vessel exporter shows how dire the situation must have got in the 1980s and 1990s to let that market go to waste.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@c21st_sailor @RoyalNavy @RUSI_org Nice one. Good move. Will be interesting!

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@JeremyBrookman2 @FTusa284 The BEF was "expeditionary" the clue is in the title. The fact it wasn't used like that was a massive mistake. The British Army needs to he deployed for strategic effect elsewhere like the Baltics, where we could add real value, not in Eastern Europe, where we would add little.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@redunley It's political. When ASPI is headed by a former opposition apparatchik it'll tend to be less forgiving of the government and use harsher language than it would against a government of its own colour.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@philchadwick64 @NavyLookout @RfaNostalgia The previous Labour government delayed and only at the last minute tried to bring the project forward. Then the Tory-Lib coalition took their time as well. Pushing back decisions may make the annual budget look good but there are huge long term costs.

[Richard Dunley @redunley]

What do we mean by deterrence, why has it come to take centre stage in our strategic documents, and what are the problems with that?

My latest piece for @ASPI_org The Strategist

https://t.co/eAIECn1mcP

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@ric_cole Well it won't matter if he can't recover UK amphibious capability and get our strategy right.

[Think Defence @thinkdefence]

A look at the history of the Bushmaster
https://t.co/146yiSH8Xk

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@thinkdefence Drones are just a useful weapon but I don't know if I agree with all of those statements. 1. Doesn't it depend on the conflict? What about where there isn't artillery? 2. Wrong. The Russian Navy hasn't been defeated. 3. How effective are those deep strikes and how deep are they?

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@graham_euan Thanks. Always keen to learn more about Konfrontasi and other usually forgotten wars and campaigns in SE Asia. They are fascinating in terms of the politics, geography, strategy, type of warfare and tactics and implications.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@thinkdefence Well as it is a Labour government we have to find something to nit pick... cos the last lot never did anything so awful as this! 🤣

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@nicholadrummond Is this a joke? RN was considering this in 2010-12 because they wanted F-35C then MoD changed its mind at a cost of £100m. I went to the briefing on this. https://t.co/8M8NoS0u2i
The cost of the conversion won't be cheap but then the carriers will be around for a long time.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@stephendziedzic It is a Suffren-class boat right? Is Naval Group offering Canada a similar design to the Attack-class that was originally selected by Australia and based on the Suffren (Barracuda) design? Then it would make sense. The French Navy are always happy to help with a sales pitch!

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@nicholadrummond 3% might have been possible sooner if the previous government hadn't shredded the budget and degraded capability so much. So it seems unfair to demand so much so soon from this government, which has made more of a commitment in 9 months than the last lot did in 14 years.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@thinkdefence Aye and whilst there are calls for further spending increases I'd want to see MoD spend this new money wisely before sending any more their way. They need to get their house in order first. Get some projects delivered and capabilities in-service. Then see if they deserve 3%.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@thinkdefence Compared to 14 years of the misery that preceded it he is doing a half decent job considering the inheritance. He could be doing more but is making the right calls and getting the UK back on track, especially with the defence increases, more in less than 1yr than Tories did in 14

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@Gabriel64869839 No choice. There is nothing else.

[Tim Fish @sweeneygov]

@matthew_sussex It was interesting how he played it. Like a reality show, giving an invitation in front of the cameras, getting the advantage, not doing it through officials via usual channels. Smart thinking. Trump didn't seem to expect it. Playing at his own game and shaping the conversation.